p1
A free community magazine delivered each month through 12,000 letterboxes across Stoke Bishop, Westbury on Trym, Sea Mills, Coombe Dingle, Henleaze and Sneyd Park
p2
p3
p4
The Editor’s Small Piece Hello there. Well I hope you enjoyed a warm sunny May and that you managed to milk your cows three times daily - which of course will mean nothing to you if you didn’t read last months introduction. So now we are into June, the month named after an assortment of historical and mythological sources and the one in which all the best people celebrate their birthdays. Apologies of course to the 91.66 recurring percent of readers who will disagree with this. As summer peeps from over the horizon, just behind that mammoth pile of ever-present cumulonimbus, so too cometh the latest issue for your hopeful enjoyment. And with summer comes concerts and stuff going on in gardens. Flick to the back and you will find no end of events, musical and horticultural, to keep you entertained whilst not watching the European Championships or Wimbledon or reading up on all the “facts” available to help you make up
p5
your mind whether you want to be “In” or “Out”. Indeed there seems to be so much going in this month worthy of publicising that I’ve had to carry over some stuff until the July issue, including a chat with the director of a lovely new comedy, filmed very locally and that will be out soon, called Golden Years . So I hope you enjoy this months issue, that you have a great month and that by the time I write my next small piece we’ll all be bronzed, relaxed and aware of where our future in or out of Europe will be. Cheers for now, Get In Touch 0117 259 1964 / 07845 986650 andy@bcmagazines.co.uk 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY @BS9Andy - www.bcmagazines.co.uk Front cover photo - “You lookin’ at me?” - herring gull perched in his favourite spot on our garage
p6
Useful Informa on Emergencies, Support & Information Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 Electricity Emergencies 0800 365 900 Water Emergencies 0845 600 4 600 (or your gas, water or electricity supplier) Avon & Somerset Police NonEmergencies 101 (new no.) Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Southmead Hospital 0117 950 5050 BRI / Children’s Hospital 0117 923 0000 NHS non-emergency 111 Council Dog Warden Services 0117 922 2500 Bristol Blood Donation 0117 988 2040 The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 Alcoholics Anonymous 08457 69 75 55 ChildLine 0800 11 11 National Rail Enquiries 08457 48 49 50 Telephone Pref Service 0845 070 0707 Mailing Pref Service 0845 703 4599 Bristol Care & Repair - home safety checks & handyman 0117 95 4 2222 Postal Services Westbury on Trym Post Office 9am - 5.30pm Mon to Fri, 9am - 4pm Sat Henleaze Post Office 8.30am - 6pm Mon to Sat Sea Mills Post Office 9am - 5.30pm Mon to Fri, 9am to 12.30pm Sat Westbury on Trym Parcel Collection 8 - 3 Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, 8 - 8 Wed, 7 - 2 Sat Late Post - there is a late post box at the main Post Office sorting depot on the A38 at Filton. Currently the late post is at 7pm.
Mon 10.00 - 2.00, Tue 10.00 - 2.00, Wed 1.00 - 5.00, Thur 1.00 - 5.00, Fri 1.00 - 5.00. Sat 11.00 - 5.00 Public Transport Visit the excellent Bristol City Council website www.travelbristolorg to plan out your routes in, around or out of the city - whether you are planning to go by bus, train, ferry, air, bike, car or foot. Local Churches St Mary Magdalene, Stoke Bishop www.stmarysb.org.uk 0117 968 7449 Methodist Church, WoT www.westburyontrymmethodistchurch.org.uk 0117 962 2930 Baptist Church, Reedley Rd, WoT www.westburybaptist.org.uk 0117 962 9990 Holy Trinity Parish Church, WoT www.westbury-parish-church.org.uk 0117 950 8644 Sacred Heart Catholic Church, WoT www.sacredheartchurch.co.uk 0117 983 3926 St Peter’s Church, Henleaze www.stpetershenleaze.org 0117 962 4524 Trinity URC, Henleaze www.trinityhenleazeurc.org.uk 0117 962 9713 The Community Church, WoT www.the-community-church.net 0117 946 6807
Local Libraries - new opening hours from 4th April Waste & Recycling Henleaze - tel. 903 8541 Mon 11.00 - 5.00, Tues 11.00 - 5.00 Wed 1.00 - 7.00, Thur 11.00 - 5.00 Fri 1.00 - 7.00, Sat 10.00 - 5.00 Westbury on Trym - tel. 903 8552 Mon 2.00 - 7.00, Tues 11.00 - 4.00 Wed 11.00 - 4.00, Thur - 11.00 - 4.00 Fri 11.00 - 4.00, Sat 11.00 - 4.00 Sea Mills - tel. 903 8555
The Household Waste and Recycling Centre on Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth for pretty much everything. The Avonmouth centre is now open Summer hours from 8.00am to 6.45pm, 7 days a week. The Silver Line is the new and only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people - open 24 hours a day every day of the year. Call anytime on 0800 4 70 80 90.
p7
p8
p9
p 10
p 11
p 12
p 13
p 14
p 15
Psychological Therapy ‐ with Jo Morgan and Jane Simmons Have you ever felt anxious? Stressed? How about lacking in confidence or low in mood? If that's a 'no', you would be pre y unusual . . . . . . so where does psychology come in? Well, psychological therapy is an integra on of science, theory and clinical knowledge applied to human beings in order to help alleviate distress and to promote well‐being. Simply put, it's about ge ng an understanding of why someone might be experiencing par cular difficul es coupled with iden fying goals to work on to help overcome those difficul es. Psychological therapy sessions are not just for those with mental health difficul es: anyone can benefit!! Our approach to therapy is that it is a two‐way collabora ve process. The therapist may be highly experienced in the field of human problems but the client is the expert on their own difficul es and how they are experiencing them. Therapy is the chance to put these two perspec ves together and find a way forward. It's a bit like joining forces as two detec ves to gain an understanding of why the problems started before moving on to finding solu ons. It's an ac ve process with plenty of prac cal guidelines and opportuni es to learn how to face things in a different way. Please see www.chironcentre.co.uk for more informa on about Psychological Therapy and our therapists Jo (right) and Jane (le )
p 16
No Prize General Knowledge Quiz 1.
On which motorways would you find the following service stations - Trowell, Rownhams, and Norton Canes?
2.
Name the 2 male leads in the classic 1970’s TV series The Persuaders.
3.
Name all the countries that have a Baltic coastline.
4.
In which counties would you find the following landmarks - Sizewell B Power Station, Alton Towers, and the National Motor Museum?
5.
Which historic wars or battles that England / the UK was involved in were “fought” between these dates - 1642 to 1651, 1853 - 1856, and 1958 - 1976?
6.
Who was the first female disc jockey on Radio 1?
7.
If you formed the word SCRABBLE on a standard UK Scrabble board using all your letters and with the letter ‘C’ on a triple letter score how many points would you earn?
8.
Henry VI, Edward IV, Edward V, ? 9.
Which fictional sci-fi film characters spoke the following lines - “Live long and prosper”, “May the odds be ever in your favor” and “Chewie, we’re home”?
10.
The following people have “represented” you on the international stage - in what capacity? Molly Scott Cato, Jake Shakeshaft & Joe Woolford, and Sir Nigel Kim Darrock.
11.
If you drove in a straight line from Lisbon to Moscow which countries would you pass through?
12.
Who composed “The Wedding March”?
13.
What is the only rock that floats in water?
14.
In terms of average elevation which is the flattest country in Europe and which is the highest?
15.
In which decade were the following forms of communication first used Morse Code, telex, the fax machine , and the printing press?
16.
Name these sportsmen and women -
Name the next people in the following sequences Selwyn Lloyd, George Thomas, Bernard Weatherill, ? James Callaghan, Michael Foot, Neil Kinnock, ?
Answers on Page 90
p 17
p 18
Councillor Peter Abraham & Councillor John Goulandris Thank you all for the support you gave us at the recent local elections held on 5th May A big thank to those who helped directly in our campaign. It really is appreciated and helps us keep in touch with all of you in Sneyd Park, Sea Mills & Stoke Bishop. Best wishes to you all
Peter & John Peter and John are here to serve you all year round. Contact either of us at any time Cllr.peter.abraham@bristol.gov.uk Cllr.john.goulandris@bristol.gov.uk Office telephone 0117 9222746
p 19
Cons tuency Ma ers ‐ Charlo e Leslie MP
The idea behind the programme is to help patients become as strong as possible, It’s Friday night, and the exercise bikes are sometimes during gruelling chemo treatment, taking a pounding with young and old alike to enable them to most effectively fight the working up a sweat. A scene you might expect at condition. any gym across the city … and indeed there Energise exercise classes are designed seems to be nothing out of the ordinary. specifically for individuals who have been But some of the people I met at Henbury Leisure affected by cancer and whose quality of life can Centre last month are exercising despite having be maintained or improved through taking part gone through the toughest battle of their lives in regular, supervised exercise. Energise is a in recent months and years. They are recovering partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support, and ongoing cancer patients and they are North Bristol NHS Trust, Sports Leisure raising their heart rates to give them the best Management Ltd and Bristol City Council. chance possible of beating this awful disease. Macmillan Cancer say the Energise programmes offer a great opportunity for cancer patients to I was there to support a Shirehampton woman, return to physical activity. Carole Dillon, who launched a foundation in memory of her husband who died after his own Carole set up the John Dillon Foundation after battle with cancer. Now Carole and the John died in 2011. In January 2010 he was foundation is supporting this award-winning diagnosed with a brain tumour to the frontal exercise programme. lobe. In February of that year he underwent surgery to remove the brain tumour which was Carole is funding the £600 cost of training of a successful but unfortunately lost the use of the coach to run sessions at Horfield Leisure Centre, left hand side of his body. In March 2010 he was to give more opportunity to people across discharged from the high dependency ward and Bristol North West and beyond to take sent for rehabilitation in South Bristol. Whilst advantage of the opportunity. Each week, up to undergoing treatment he contracted deep vein 15 people take part in hour-long tailored thrombosis in his leg affecting his recovery. After sessions of exercise under the supervision of three and a half weeks John came home. Carole coach Paul Emsley. There are similar says rehabilitation John received during this programmes at Easton and Hengrove. period was inadequate due to the lack of specialist facilities and staffing levels. We were given a tour of the Henbury class by Paul and the centre’s exercise referral manager It became evident through John’s stay that the Alistair Macfarlane. And we met cancer patient current centres are focused towards an older Doug Bryant from Horfield who explained the age group and provide no specific care for benefits of both the exercise and the cancer patients. The whole process that John camaraderie in the class. went through highlighted the need for a rehabilitation centre in the Bristol area particularly for cancer sufferers.
Left to right, Doug Bryant, Paul Emsley, Carole Dillon, Alistair Macfarlane and Charlotte
Shortly afterwards John was diagnosed with a lung tumour and then in July 2010 he was informed that it had spread to his liver, sadly at this point John was told that his illness was terminal. Despite this John showed immense courage and a positive attitude especially with his great sense of humour. Sadly in May 2011 John passed away at the age of 56. (continued overleaf)
p 20
Cons tuency Ma ers ‐ Charlo e Leslie MP
Can I urge readers to look at the foundation website and if you feel you can help Carole, get But Carole has said that the rehabilitation centre in touch. The link is below. was not suitable for his age or his health needs For more information about the charity work as most of the other people there were elderly visit www.johndillonfoundation.org. and she felt there is a desperate need for a dedicated rehabilitation centre for adults with For more about Energise, visit cancer. This was the original plan for the www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/cancerfoundation but in the meantime, Carole said she rehabilitation-exercise wanted to support ongoing activities to help Energise was a winner at this year’s Bristol people so she is funding the training to deliver Health and Care awards in the ‘Together We Energise sessions at Horfield Leisure Centre. Achieve’ Award. It was utterly inspiring to see the work being done with the Energise programme. Everyone I Charlo e Leslie MP for spoke to described the huge benefits at what Bristol North West must be a very low point in life. Carole has been trying to make life better for cancer patients since John died and the funding of an extra coach for Horfield will do exactly that.
Office: 184 Henleaze Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NE 0117 962 9427 www.charlo elesli e.com E: charlo e.leslie.mp@parliament.uk
p 21
p 22
p 23
Thank you from Cllr Liz Radford and Cllr Geoff Gollop We would like to thank all who voted in the local elections in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze and particularly the 45% of voters who voted for us and helped us to achieve the highest votes in Bristol! We are here to represent you, so please let us know your concerns and any issues you have with Bristol City Council. Cllr Geoff Gollop - 0117 9039946 - Cllr.geoffrey.gollop@bristol.gov.uk Cllr Liz Radford - 07392 108806 - Cllr.liz.radford@bristol.gov.uk
We are very fortunate to have a hard working team of volunteers who deliver our leaflets throughout the year. If you would like to help us and join that team, please email us on wotandhz@gmail.com
p 24
Making hay while the sun shone ….. I recently received a lovely letter from Petronella Leahy, a BS9 resident of a certain age, who wondered if readers might be interested in her reminiscences of helping with the haymaking as a child growing up in Gloucestershire back in . . . well, a while ago. I decided on your behalf that you would be interested - so here is Petronella’s lovely account of childhood summers.
men” for lunch, but we were allowed to leave the table early (our father was probably pleased to have some respite from our excited chattering) and we rushed from the farmhouse across the fields to where the hedge where the men were stretched out in the shade, exhausted from a hard mornings work which had probably begun long before we children were up and about.
One would not suspect that we had already eaten from the eager way we accepted bites of thick beef sandwiches, chunks of fruit cake, and (oh bliss!) swigs of our rough home-brewed cider from brown bottles. Even today, when in the West Country drinking draught cider from the cask, I recall those wondrous days: the smell of the sweet hay, the sweating bodies of men and horses, and the creak of the hay carts. To How the day - or rather days - of hay-making drink from a bottle which passed from mouth to began (and presumably ended, I cannot now mouth (what would Mother say if she knew?!) remember. But what I can recall vividly were the and to wipe one’s lips on one’s sleeve like the lunch times, and the journeys to and from the men. Oh the bliss of being accepted as “one ‘o huge barns, high, high up on the slowly moving they”! hay carts. How the hay tickled and scratched one’s bare legs; how it would float on the bath water that night and how slippery one’s sandals (always bought large to allow for growth) became, the hay seeds filling the empty spaces. The cart seemed mountain high, even before loading, and with “my very own” child’s hay fork I never managed that toss of hay from field to cart. “How I looked forward to hay-making. The possibility of bad weather was not art of the reasoning of an eight year old girl on a remote Gloucestershire farm , a farm where the distant and ever changing Malvern Hills seemed - even at that tender age - to permeate our lives with peace and wonder.
One rocked and held on, almost frightened, as the laden cart made its way to the barn, a It was always, or so it seems now, hot and sunny. different sound emerging as the horses left the The larks always sang and always the bees soft field and clattered over the uneven stones buzzed busily. And the smell, that marvellous of the yard. And oh, that rapid change from the smell of sweet hay filled the air. The darting heat outside to the cool darkness of that great flight of small insects contrasted vividly with the barn, a darkness to which one’s eyes gradually slow deliberate movements of the harvesters. became accustomed. And conversely the shock when felt of being temporarily blinded on reMy brother and I were not permitted to join “the emerging onto the sunlit yard for the return
p 25
journey to the hayfield, this time - perhaps perched on the back of one of the no longer straining great horses, one of whom inappropriately - seemed to be called daisy. Dear Daisy, how we all loved her. Gentle and quite definitely understanding everything this particular eight year old taught her!
After the hay-making my usual round of the cow shed - no milking parlour then - to beg a drink of milk straight from the cow into an old white tin mug. Warm, sweet and frothy! Bliss. Since childhood I have only once been on a farm at harvest time. It might have been a different planet. All I could hear was engine noise and vibration, and the hay was in rectangular bales, waiting in neat rows for automated retrieval and removal. Progress? There are of course arguments on both sides. I am sorry the young may no longer experience a way of life lived at a more leisurely pace. Yet I am equally sure that each succeeding generation experiences something unique in that particular period, and who may say which is the better? One merely hopes that the rush of modern life with its cacophony of noise and canned “music” does not dim all sensitivity and imagination in the young” If any other readers want to share any interesting stories, especially if they have a local element to them, please get in touch.
MOLESWORTHS OF HENLEAZE THE
BBQ SPECIALISTS • PRIZE WINNING SAUSAGES • TASTY 8‐WEEK MATURED T‐BONES • GOWER SALT MARCH LAMB KOFTAS • FREE RANGE CHINESE PORK RIBS • BUTTERFLIED LEGS OF GOWER LAMB • BBQ BOXES AND MORE . . .
101 Henleaze Road, Bristol, BS9 4JP
0117 962 1095
www.henleazebutchers.co.uk
Like us for special offers and seasonal recipes
p 26
STOKE BISHOP guide £775,000 A stylish and individual 5 bedroom detached family house in a leafy Stoke Bishop loca on within just 500m of Elmlea School & near the local shops & ameni es of Stoke Lane. Further benefi ng from off street parking for 3 cars and a large enviable kitchen/ dining space with bi‐folding doors leading out onto a 55 x 38 rear garden. Tastefully improved and extended, this bright and invi ng family home has much to offer. EPC: D
STOKE BISHOP guide £595,000 A spacious & well‐ presented 3/4 bedroom, 2/3 recep on, 2 bath/shower room 1930's semi‐detached two storey family house situated in a desirable loca on where local schools and shops are nearby. A lovely home with impressive extended ground floor living accommoda on, off street parking for 2 cars, workshop & private 58 rear garden. An excellent house in a convenient and popular loca on. EPC: D
WESTBURY‐ON‐TRYM guide £565,000 A light & airy 4 bedroom, 2 recep on room 1930's semi‐detached family house with no onward chain, enjoying a 55 south westerly facing level rear garden, off street parking & a garage. Ideally located in a peaceful road near the Stoke Lane shops. A spacious family home offering a blank canvas for buyers seeking to improve and put their own stamp on a property. EPC: E
HENLEAZE guide £500,000 Ridgehill A light & airy 3 bedroom (originally 4 bedrooms), 2/3 recep on room detached family house enjoying a 50 x 33 level rear garden, ample off street parking, car port & storage garage. Situated on a peaceful & well‐regarded cul‐de‐sac within 500 metres of Henleaze Junior School & local shops, cafes & ameni es of Henleaze Road. EPC: D
Richard Harding, the independent Estate Agents selling fine homes in & around all BS9 areas - professionally, reliably, successfully
p 27
Coaching with Anne Miller The Meaning of Success We all know what ‘success’ means, don’t we? In its simplest terms it might be defined as ‘the achieving of results wanted or hoped for’. But the meaning of success is far more complex because it is subjective: who has stipulated the result and who is doing the wanting or hoping? Asked to think of a successful business and you may come up with Apple or Google. Asked to think of a successful person and people like Bill Gates and Richard Branson may come to mind. Whilst their successes may go beyond financial, it would be hard to not to view this as the dominant one. It is easy to get caught up in the images and reports of successful people being the ones who have amassed great financial fortunes. This is not to deny this as success- the creation and accumulation of wealth is a success if that’s what you set out to achieve. Why do we know more about the Kardashians than the people involved in the rescuing of the many thousands of refugees? It’s somewhat shocking to acknowledge that we are apparently fascinated by people who have huge amounts of wealth and flaunt it and that those who are saving lives are barely given a nod. It takes resolve to stand by our own values and resist the pressures from society and others around us; to establish our own measures of success and stay true to them. Many of my clients reference ‘success’ amongst their aspirations and go on to question as to what that means for them. How can we ever be successful if we haven’t defined what success means for us personally?
If we start a business we will need to produce a business plan for our bank or lender. This will need to detail: income, expenditure, profit and timescales. Not surprising that this is all about the money, given that the banks are only interested in the financial prospects and returns. But what to you, as a business owner, makes your business successful? Maybe it’s about customer service and reputation, maybe the loyalty of your staff, maybe the work/life balance that it allows you. And what are your priorities? Increasingly we hear of people who have worked hard towards achieving their goals of a high salary, expensive life style and a powerful position in business, only to find when they get there that they are not fulfilled. They had been so captivated by other’s definition of success that they hadn’t given enough thought to their own. So how do you get a firm grasp on your personal definition with so much pressure around you? One way is to start at the end and think back: when you get towards the end of your life and take in all that you have achieved and how you have achieved it, what do you want to feel proud of? It’s worth taking some time to get really clear so that you can capture your meaning of success, in whatever way works for you. Only when you have your answer can you start on the right track towards your success. Working with a coach you will gain new perspectives empowering you to make better choices and achieve positive change. Visit www.annemillercoaching.co.uk for more information and to book a free consultation Tel: 07722110228
p 28
Could your estate be at risk from a claim a er your death? Recently there has been a lot of publicity surrounding the case of Heather Ilo , who successfully claimed against her mother, Melita's estate a er she died. Melita and Heather had been estranged for over 20 years and Melita excluded Heather en rely from her Will, choosing instead to leave everything to various different chari es. Heather's claim was successful and she was ul mately awarded around one third of Melita's total estate by the Court of Appeal. However, the story con nues as the chari es have successfully applied for the Court of Appeal's decision to be reviewed by the Supreme Court in December. Can you protect your estate? Understandably, the case has generated much concern about the risk of claims being brought by adult children against their parents' estates. So what can be done to minimise the risks?
It is not possible to absolutely prevent a claim being brought, because Parliament passed the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act in 1975, which en tles certain types of people to claim. These include minor and adult children, spouses and civil partners, cohabitees of at least two years dura on and people who have been financially maintained by the person who has died. Whether a claim will succeed depends on many factors, including how much, if any, provision has been made for the claimant by the deceased. Each case will be assessed on its own merits. However, there are steps you can take to address these risks if you receive the appropriate legal advice. Forfeiture clauses You can add a professionally dra ed clause to your Will ‐ gi ing a legacy, typically a sum of money, to the par cular person who represents a risk. Bizarre as this may sound, the legacy will only be paid out if the person does not bring a claim so this can act as a powerful poten al deterrent to a claim for a more substan al sum being brought and succeeding.
p 29
Le er of Wishes You can write a Le er of Wishes, sta ng the reasons why you have chosen to exclude a par cular person from your Will. Specialist legal advice should always be taken on the prepara on of such le ers as a poorly dra ed Le er of Wishes can back‐fire and help to strengthen a claimant's case, rather than weaken it. Choose your executors carefully We frequently see family members appointed as executors, who are then faced with the unpleasant task of dealing with a claim made by another family member or another individual against the estate. This generally causes great emo onal distress
and the executor will be joined to the court proceedings. For these reasons, we o en advise that professional executors be appointed in cases where a claim is envisaged. It is vital to seek skilled professional advice when preparing your Will. We frequently iden fy the risk of such claims being brought when taking Will instruc ons from clients, and advise on the best protec ve steps to minimise the risks to their estate. For specialist advice in this area, please contact Michelle Rose at mrose@vwv.co.uk
p 30
Talking Pets with Viking Vets Starting with a warning - this months musings are not directly veterinary related, more a reflection on life's ups and down.
that talking about a problem with close friends helps, not only to put it in perspective but may give you an unexpected solution.
Being middle aged is a very busy time in life, you may still have dependent children, whilst your parents are getting old and frail and needing My father died in the beginning of April, and as much as this was a relief for him and us, it makes your help. We run around in ever decreasing circles, fitting in more and more until we you stop and think. Grief is a strange feeling, I think it is very important to let yourself feel it become completely overwhelmed with our endless 'to do' lists that seem to get longer the properly. Not push it away, but embrace it as more we get done. part of coming to terms with the loss you are experiencing. Time doesn't heal, but it put a different perspective on your loss. You can Stress is an unwanted companion to carry remember good times rather than sad. I don't around all the time, but I found a great help in some mindful exercises. My favourite one at think anybody is dead until they are forgotten. The strange thing is we can still learn new things present is to take some deep breaths, where your exhalation lasts twice as long as your about people we have lost. inhalation. Try it. I find it works particularly well Life is not endless. Most of us take our health for when your teenager is winding you up. If you can do the breathing before you “vomit your granted, but it can be taken away in a split venom� over them you may be surprised by the second. Some people cope with these life changing events better than others. Denial and result. I have to say I have not perfected this yet, anger are common feelings, but not very helpful but at least I am trying to learn new things! in staying sane. Acceptance and trying to stay Maria Lowe, Veterinary Surgeon, Viking Vets positive in the face of adversity is more productive. As a woman I do like to talk and find
p 31
p 32
p 33
p 34
p 35
Restaurants ‐ Prego on North View
the problem at Prego is just what to choose. I could have happily ordered everything on the menu - which made me a very happy Comfort and company - two nice things to manager. In the end, and noting the have when eating out. Last time I ate out on aforementioned desire for comfort, I selected North View was a solo experience at Manna, the meat anti pasti - there were vegetarian Prego’s excellent stablemate just across the and seafood options available too - followed road. My good lady was ill that night so I by a slow roast pork shoulder pizza, and dined alone, and sampled some cracking finished off (extra time if you like) with a options off the menu that I might not have classic Italian Tiramisu. Across the table the usually gone for. Tonight however was selection choices were just as difficult but in different. We were both fighting fit, and on a the end Ruth opted for smoked duck with cold and drizzly evening I felt the need for rocket, parmesan and hazelnuts, roasted fillet something a little more mainstream, a little more comforting - something involving Italian of monkfish and a rhubarb and frangipane tart. meat, a pizza and a big dose of chocolate. Prego delivered brilliantly on all fronts. Stating the obvious, with food you either like it or you don’t and I really like antipasti for We do like Prego. We’d eaten there a couple of times before, on both occasions during the starter. A combination of prosciutto, Milanese salami and Parma ham, with olives, sweet day when the full glass frontage makes the place light and airy. Indeed you can get airier picked chillies and sourdough bread, this was a real winner and got the meal off to a great still by eating outside when the weather is good - you are set back off North View so the start. It was hard to pick out any overriding, distinct flavours but the overall taste was traffic isn’t intrusive and you can sit al fresco and watch the world visiting this eclectic little fresh, savoury spot on. I forgot to ask how the dressing was made which was an omission on area that forms the border of BS9 and BS6. my part - so I’ll have to go back. More subdued as darkness sets in, Prego offers a warm and inviting atmosphere to The pizza base was how pizza bases should be anyone wise enough to walk in rather than - none of that prefabricated stuffed nonsense walk past. A little less intimate that it’s sister that suffocates the tasteless toppings - no this across the way, the open plan dining area was thin, light, crispy at the edges and as ensures that Prego is filled with the burbling and chatter of diners - a happy mix of couples rustically round as a medieval cartwheel. A star in itself but which also played host to a and bigger family outings. warming, rich medley of toppings including porcini mushrooms and fennel in with the fabulous slow roast pork and chilli. Sometimes a pizza never seems to get any smaller as you eat it - on this occasion that was fine by me. I could have stopped at starter and main course, but the lure of the dolci - puddings to me and you - was too strong and hey, if the chef has gone to the trouble of making a tiramisu then it would have been rude not to Of course the real attraction is the food, where have tried it. And let’s be honest - who can say no to a pudding consisting of little more than the challenge starts. Like a football manager who has a fully fit, classy and winning squad,
(continued overleaf)
p 36
cake, chocolate, coffee and cream - especially when in the name of investigative journalism. So I investigated and unsurprisingly in was ’proper lush’ as they say. Light, sweet, with a proper coffee kick - if ‘tiramisu’ isn’t Italian for ‘heaven’ then I’ll complain to Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Meanwhile across the table my wife polished off all three courses in effortless fashion - so much so I didn’t get much of a look-in. I did get a forkful of monkfish, which was firm, tender and sweet, but missed out on
sampling the duck or helping out with the frangipane tart. All I can say is that her three courses looked and smelled as good as mine, were polished off with the same enthusiasm and were apparently ‘really great’. And the other bits and pieces you want to know about? Well the service was what you would expect from a restaurant that has established such a strong reputation in Bristol - friendly, attentive, relaxed. The wine list looked, and I am sure was, good - we didn’t indulge - and the coffee at the end rounded off a terrific meal perfectly. Next time, and there will be a next time, we will take our pasta-loving daughter with us, and being Italian the place knows how to look after the bambinos just as well. So all in all a great meal in a lovely restaurant - can’t get better than that on a drizzly Bristol evening. Prego, 7 North View, Westbury Park www.pregobar.co.uk / 0117 973 0496
p 37
p 38
You tell us what you want to achieve and we will help you achieve it. Tell us what concerns you have and we will find a solu on. 76 Macrae Road, Eden Office Park, Ham Green, Bristol, BS20 0DD 01275 373348
Is there any interest out there? Last month I men oned the new personal savings allowance; the ability for Basic rate tax payers to earn up to £1,000 of savings interest without paying tax and higher rate tax payers up to £500. Your immediate thought might be, “so what – I have my savings in Cash ISA’s and it’s all tax free?”
You would be right for thinking this, however over the past year or so, some very odd things have been happening to interest on savings. Tradi onally interest paid on ISA’s, as well as being tax free was higher than easy access accounts which in turn were higher than most current accounts that o en paid no interest. Now however you can pre y much stand that on its head. The best easy access accounts pay between 1.2%
p 39
and 1.4% and the same goes for the best Cash ISA’s. As for the humble current account – well some pay as much as 5% interest!
▪ ▪
So is it better to scrap your ISA’s and put all the proceeds in a current account? ▪ If only it were that simple! No, the reality is many of the current account offers have caveats to them. i.e. one of the 5% rates from TSB requires £500 to be credited to the account each month, you must use internet banking and you only get 5% on a balance of £2,000. Some offer cash incentives to switch, some offer cashback on what you spend each month on utility costs, mobile bills, broadband and council tax! Some require you to set up more than one direct debit, and some charge a fee each month. Interest paying current accounts has become an extremely competitive market. If you are open minded and prepared to use them to your advantage then it can really work well for you. As an example, currently one of the most successful is the Santander 1,2,3 Account. You have to pay £5 a month, but you can earn cashback on many of your monthly outgoings and they will pay 3% interest on balances up to £20,000 – so that is £600, or £540 after the monthly fee. Add to that the tax advantages of the new personal savings allowance and you can see that for many people this can be quite attractive. (figures accurate as at 12/05/2016. Source: thisismoney.co.uk)
▪
▪ ▪
The small print or rules of the alternative current or savings account may not be appropriate for you The Cash ISA is still tax free and will not count towards your personal savings allowance If Interest rates rise the personal savings allowance will not look so attractive ISA’s are tax free for the long run. Politically a change to ISA’s is less likely than a change to the personal savings allowance Usually (although not currently) Cash ISA rates are better than savings rates Your tax position may change and the advantage of the personal savings allowance for higher rate tax payers is less significant.
However, what I would say is at the moment there are no hard and fast rules. An ISA will not ALWAYS be the best option. Your circumstances and objectives need consideration and taking advice might be an idea. Please be aware that none of the above constitutes financial advice. We recommend that you consider your existing investments and/or pensions and any new money you are thinking of investing and then take advice. The above article is based on tax rules and interest rates as at May 2016.
It really depends on how much you have in savings and what your objectives and period of saving is, as to what deal is best for you. There Phil James are plenty of online websites to guide you or you Grosvenor Consultancy Ltd. can seek advice. 01275 373 348 So, what of the Cash ISA? Are its days numbered? In my opinion, no, for the following reasons:
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice and some forms of offshore investments. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the full amount you invested.
p 40
The Downs Recorder ‐ Richard Bland
was contracted to shear 500 sheep owned by the publican of the Post Office Inn in Westburyon Trym, which were driven from the Downs and The history of the Downs in ten objects kept in the yard of The Lion. The end of sheep - no. 2 The Sheep drinking trough c 1700 Ivy grazing came when there was an outbreak of Well Road sheep scab in November 1924 in sheep that had come from the Downs, and the Commoners Time was that drinking troughs for horses were decided not to put any sheep out to pasture in still commonly found at market places and cab 1925. However they have maintained their rights stops, and they often bore statements about the by a token grazing every five years or so, and individuals or organisations that had provided such an event happened last summer, with them. They tended to become plant tubs, and I sheep provided by the University Veterinary can actually think of none that I know of in School at Langford. Bristol now. But at the top of Ivy Well Road on the edge of Circular Road on the Downs there is The six Afghan goats in the gully have still a sheep trough. It is a miraculous survival, as demonstrated vividly the huge impact that a few the whole area around it was taken over by grazing animals can have in the four years they American tanks in the last war, and all of them have been there, and it was sheep grazing by trundled up Stoke hill and round Downleaze. It is the Commoners that ensured that the Downs a rough-hewn block of pennant sandstone, one was bare of all trees except those planted in side now broken, quarried probably from the avenues along the major turnpike roads. All early Frome Valley, and it has been dug out into a pictures make it clear that both the surface of trough, and at one end a hole has been drilled to the Downs and most of the Gorge slopes were allow it to be drained and cleaned. It would have almost entirely free of trees or scrub at least until had a wooden bung driven into the hole, and the early twentieth century. presumably it would have been filled originally from the well. There was a commoners It was management by sheep that ensured that Shepherd whose job it was as late as 1918 to the surface of the Downs was covered in a rich keep it filled. mixture of limestone loving plants. The rock was very close to the surface, as the “running track” revealed, and the soil was poor and thin, so that a range of small plants, such as Harebell, Dropwort, Betony and Thyme, Fairy Flax, Milkwort, Rock Rose and Centaury, Yellow-wort, Dwarf Thistle, and Kidney Vetch, and orchids such as Autumn Ladies Tresses, Twayblade, and Bee Orchid could flourish. These plants were long hidden by the mowing that took over from the sheep, but they survived, and the decision to allow some areas to be left unmown and cut for hay once a year has revealed the glory that the sheep had created over more than a thousand years. The broken sheep trough is a simple symbol of this profound continuity. There were originally troughs by Stoke Road and The Downs are for people, and the management Parry’s lane, and there was a pond near the of a vast number of competing interests is White Tree. Several of the Downs fountains also sophisticated and subtle. provided little troughs for animals, though they appear to have been intended for dogs. If you enjoy the Downs, or use if for your sport, why not become a Friend? Membership It is not clear how many sheep actually grazed is just £10. For further information contact the Downs. In 1917 14 individuals had the right Robin Haward at to graze just under 2000 sheep, but records from robinhaward@blueyonder.co.uk , call 1872 state that some 400 sheep were actually 0117 974 3385, or visit our website grazing. But before the first world war a shearer fodag-bristol.weebly.com
p 41
p 42
Bristol and Keynsham Society
p 43
Advice from Ci zens Advice Bristol
passports, jewellery or other valuable goods. Some also take personal details such as bank details to detail or conduct identity theft.
Illegal Money Lending According to National Trading Standards, 108 loan sharks were arrested last year. Illegal Money Lending Teams operate across the UK to prosecute lenders providing illegal loans. Not only do they prosecute loan sharks, but they also provide support and help to victims and witnesses, referring them for further advice for help with their finances should they need it. What is a ‘loan shark’? In the UK, any organisation or individual providing loans must hold a consumer credit licence. An illegal moneylender (also known as “loan shark”) is someone who lends to their ‘customers’ without such a licence.
Most, if not all of their actions, are criminal offences and the Illegal Money Lending Team will prosecute loan sharks. Some loan sharks prey on vulnerable members of the community. They work through referrals from friends or small communities. How do I report a loan shark? If you suspect a loan shark is operating in your area, contact the Illegal Money Lending Team and report it on 0300 555 2222 which is open 24 hours a day. You can report anonymously and there is absolutely no obligation to be involved in any future prosecution. A simple post code of the area where the loan shark is operating is often enough for the team to begin investigating without putting victims at risk of discovery. Indeed, the team are used to operating confidentially.
You may not realise that you have borrowed money from a loan shark. Some lenders appear licenced until their behaviour suggests otherwise. They can start out as friends, or recommendations from friends. What is typical is that there is often a lack of paperwork or formal written agreement. You may also find that arbitrary amounts of interest and charges are applied to the original balance of the loan.
It is also important to note that people who use loan sharks are not committing any crime; it is only the loan shark who will be prosecuted.
It is also not uncommon for these ‘lenders’ to secure payment through threats of, or actual physical violence. Some retain their customers’
www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 03444 111 444 for more information.
If you are struggling with your finances there are plenty of local organisations that can help you deal with your debts. Visit
p 44
203 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2XT
It’s a me of interes ng poli cal change in Bristol and further afield right now. We have a new face at City Hall in Mayor Marvin Rees and a European referendum just days away. The New Statesman writes that Rees has inherited ‘a nice place to live and work, with house prices up, businesses moving in and bright young things staying on a er finishing university’. Not everyone may see it like that. But there is a real sense when we are talking to clients who are reloca ng or buying and ren ng property here that the idea that Bristol is a ‘city on the up’ is all part of its growing a rac on. Local and European poli cs con nue to keep us on the map‐ Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson and (by print?) who knows even David Cameron have all popped in the last few weeks to appeal to voters. Perhaps they have realised what the people who live here already know‐ that the people of Bristol not only care, they ma er. If you wanted to have a ‘no strings a ached’ chat about any property related ma er then one of our expert team would be delighted to help. Call the Cli on office on 0117 923 8238. Best wishes, Howard Davis, MD Cli on
www.cjhole.com Clifton Sales 0117 923 8238
p 45
clifton@cjhole.co.uk
Sneyd Park – Coming Soon
Central ‐ £430,000
A spacious ground floor apartment in one of Sneyd Parks most desirable addresses. The apartment comprises: Generous lounge/diner with French doors leading to the rear communal garden, separate kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom, plus a parking space and is offered with no onward chain. EPC D
A stunning apartment on the fourth floor of the recently converted Southey House. The apartment comprises: three bedrooms, two with en suite shower rooms, main bathroom, as well as a light and spacious open plan living/ dining/kitchen. Parking is available by separate nego a on. EPC B
Pill ‐ £425,000
Cli on – SSTC
Located at the end of a quiet cul‐de‐sac, is this lovely spacious detached bungalow. The property offers: Four bedrooms (one with en suite), lounge, kitchen/breakfast room & bathroom. There is a generous driveway plus a garage and well maintained gardens to both the front and rear. EPC D
More like this required. Offering versa le accommoda on over four levels is this impressive period town house in Cli on. The property offers: living room/kitchen with access to the rear decked balcony, second recep on, three bedrooms (one with en suite), family bathroom, courtyard and garage. EPC E
Clifton Lettings 0117 946 6588 www.cjhole.com
p 46
p 47
Mrs PC ‐ friendly computer training
have enough space on their hard drive, so you won’t have much choice. When you eventually Should I install the Windows 10 free update? have to retire your computer and buy a new one, it will come with the latest operating system On the 29th July 2015, Microsoft announced that already installed, so you will have to get used to current Windows 7 and 8.1 customers would be Windows 10 at that stage. Don’t be filled with offered the chance to download and install horror, it really isn’t that bad! Windows 10 as a free upgrade. Windows XP and Vista users have to pay for the upgrade, so it is The biggest concern when upgrading to a new not quite such an attractive option for them. operating system is that it doesn’t go wrong. The upgrade is a big deal, and if it crashes you Most Windows could lose data, so you should back up all your users became files and also make a system image backup of aware of the your current operating system. So if you want update because to take the plunge and decide to go ahead with of a new icon on the upgrade, then please be sure to do this first. their screen and The upgrade takes quite a while to install, so a rather large bear that in mind as well. If the update fails, or marketing you don’t like it, you will need a back up to campaign on TV restore to. You can rewind to Windows 7 for 30 and in the press. days after the upgrade. Reminders about the upgrade have been popping up even more insistently on everyone’s If you are running Windows 8 and aren’t happy computers in the last month or so, because the with it, you may as well try Windows 10 and see upgrade is only free for a year. On 29th July what you think. You will find it is a very solid 2016, you will have to pay for it. So you will have operating system, which is fast and secure. It has to make up your minds soon. a better search function and the ability to use voice control with Cortana. Updates are I am always cautious when it comes to updates, automatic and it is easier to snap several and never rush into major ones until all the windows together on your screen. glitches are fixed, so my advice at first was to wait a while. As the deadline approaches I have Common misconceptions are that Microsoft will been repeatedly asked what my opinion is on start charging a fee to subscribe to updates this matter, hence this article. In fact the answer (untrue) and that they are spying on their is by no means clear-cut. customers with Windows 10. Data is collected to see how customers use their product and to Some clients have upgraded with no trouble at make improvements and if you don’t want to all, others have upgraded and then chosen to share this information, you can opt out. roll back to Windows 7 and some have had lots of trouble after the update, with software not Hope this helps you to come to a decision that is working correctly, and difficulties with their right for you and your computer. printers. Quite a few people find it hard to adjust to using the new system and need a lesson to get used to a new look. So it’s a real mixed bag. If you are using an older computer but you like your operating system, and all is working fine, then it’s perfectly acceptable to retain what you have. If you have older software or printers they may not work with Windows 10, so an upgrade may cause you all kinds of complications and distress. Some older computers simply don’t meet the requirements of Windows 10 because they don’t
p 48
p 49
p 50
History Notes no.103. Ancient springs of the Nelson was reputed to always insist on having a Sandbrook valley ‐ Julian Lea‐Jones supply of ‘Bristol Water’ on board for his personal use. Early accounts mention a path for pilgrims and travellers leading from the Augustinian Abbey, This sylvan scene was probably unchanged until just outside the town of Bristol, to the Monastery shortly after the Norman Conquest. Bristol’s College at Westbury-on-Trym. castle “The Flower of English Keeps” required financing and to overcome usury laws the From the Abbey it traversed the slopes of Norman conquerors used Jewish financiers. Thus Brandon Hill, crowned by the Chapel dedicated from about 1100 Bristol became home to a small to Saint Brendan, down into the steep sided but gradually increasing group of Jews who valley of the Sandbrook which it crossed before established themselves in the area just outside rising through the equally steep slopes of Clifton the town walls between Broad and Small streets. Wood. Passing through the Manor of Clifton our traveller would have been grateful to reach the In accordance with their religion and customs Downs plateau, high above the river Avon where they needed a secluded hillside for a separate on a clear day they could see the gleam of the cemetery together with two sources of water, river joining the distant Severn. Rested they one for washing their dead and the other for could cross the plateau and head down to purification rituals. The spring and chamber for Westbury. preparing the dead needed to be close to the cemetery. Although we do not know who directed them to the valley of the Sandbrook, we can imagine their pleasure at finding such an ideal location – a secluded hillside away from the busy town and the eyes of the townspeople, but a short walk away from their Jewry. Directly opposite their proposed cemetery, (now beneath Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School), an unadopted spring gushed forth from a crevice which could be enlarged to form a Tahara – a washing chamber for the dead. They also discovered another spring flowing into the Sandbrook which emerged from a small rock chamber suitable for constructing a purification bath - a ‘Mikveh’; suitable because the water from this spring flowed downhill before joining Our interest lies in the first part of that journey - the main brook thus uncontaminated by any the bridle path spiralling down the hill of St water from the Tahara. After completing the Brandon to the steep sided valley where the work on the spring the final addition would have silver rill of the Sandbrook flowed into a creek on been a notice part of which would have been the the bank of the Avon. Throughout the millennia, word “SACHOLIM”, advising their brethren that it before climbing to Clifton, travellers would have was a Mikveh with flowing water and to use it in broken their journey to refresh themselves at the accordance with the appropriate rules. springs gushing from the rocks on either side of the path. In those ancient times it is likely that due to the Sandbrook’s relative seclusion the springs were known only to Clifton’s manorial tenants and those passing between the monastic houses. Sailors probably also came to the creek to refill their water barrels from the sparkling stream before setting off on their voyages. Admiral Lord
p 51
Limelkiln Dock at Anchor road.
The massive lintel stone at the head of ‘Jacob’s Well’ spring showing the only pre-expulsion Hebrew ‘Mikveh’ inscription discovered in England.
Fortunately for posterity the important Hebrew word was deeply carved into the massive lintel stone above the Mikveh chamber, where it remains today undiminished by the passage of time. There the situation would probably have remained if it hadn’t been for the expulsion of the Jews in 1290, after which the spring water once more ran free into the creek that became
When the Jewish community adopted the spring we now know as the ‘Jacob’s Well’ for their own use, it is likely that another spring, the ‘Garden Spring’ on the opposite side of the same path (now the aptly named Constitution Hill) would continue to be used by travellers until the 19th century when springs supplied the Jacob’s Well Public Baths. © Julian Lea-Jones, FRAeS, 2016 www.history4u.info
p 52
p 53
Maximising income in re rement
Once in re rement and relying on investments, savings and pensions it’s important to make the most of them. One way to achieve this is to take income and withdrawals in the most tax‐ efficient way possible. It is possible to receive withdrawals in income and capital of up to £33,100 in the 2016/17 tax year without suffering any personal taxa on. This can be achieved as follows: Earned/pension income £11,000 Dividend income £5,000 Savings income £6,000* Capital gains £11,100 Total £33,100 *This full amount is only available tax‐ free if the total of all earned/pension income and savings income is £17,000 or less in 2016/17. This makes use of various tax allowances and exemp ons. Note the dividend and savings allowances and capital gains exemp on
relate to investments held outside of ISAs. ISAs are not subject to tax on dividend income, savings income or capital gains so could be considered separately and in addi on to this. This means thinking about where your assets are held – in an ISA, pension, or outside either of these types of account. As the tax treatment is different depending on where the investments are held, it is important to take income and withdrawals from the right accounts, and the right type of investments within those accounts, to make use of all the available allowances and exemp ons. A professional financial adviser can help you organise this. Richard is a Chartered Financial Planner with a specialist interest in providing friendly, old fashioned, face to face financial advice to local people. He has par cular exper se in re rement planning as well as Inheritance Tax planning and investments. He can be contacted directly by email on richard.higgs@wealthwest.co.uk, the website ww.wealthwest.co.uk or by telephone on 0117 966 5699.
p 54
p 55
Prize Wordsearch An avian theme to this months wordsearch with garden birds the object of your search. Listed below are twenty two birds you might reasonably expect to see in your garden. Twenty one of them are also hidden in the grid to the right. Just try and track them down and you should be left with one odd-bird-out. Just let me know the missing bird and if you are correct your entry will go into the hat with all the correct entries from this months BS9 and BS6 magazines. After the closing date of 30th June one entry will be drawn and that person will win a family ticket to travel on the terrific open top bus tour of Bristol organised by Bristol Insight, and a voucher to spend travelling on one of Bristol’s lovely yellow ferry boats. Entries by email to andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, post to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY, phone to 0117 259 1964, text to 07845 986650 or Tweet to @BS9Andy. All correct entries, however received, are allocated a number and then one number is selected randomly by computer to determine the winning entry. Best of luck - here are the names you are looking for:Long Tailed Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Jay, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Starling, House Sparrow, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap, Jackdaw, Fieldfare and Redwing. Best of luck and have fun searching.
Thank you to everybody who entered the April competition for the cheeses and cheeseboard. The correct answer was Leeds and the first entry out of the hat was a postal entry from Jen Allen. Congratulations Jen, your fromage is on its way.
p 56
The AMD Solicitors Private Client department presents a workshop on
Planning For The Future AMD Solicitors invite you to join us for a practical afternoon workshop on Planning For The Future. This workshop will cover: • The new Inheritance Tax rules (what we know so far) • How to not leave a dispute after your death • Deeds of Variation – an update
We will be holding the workshop in both Redland and Henleaze as follows:Redland – Thursday 21st July 2016 – 3pm to 4pm Tyndale Baptist Church, 139 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2NR Henleaze – Thursday 28th July 2016 – 3pm to 4pm Leonard Hall, Trinity-Henleaze United Reformed Church, Waterford Road, Henleaze BS9 4BT The workshop will begin with talks by two of our Solicitors, Florence Pearce and Andrew Jack, and will be followed by a question and answer session. Florence and Andrew are experienced specialist private client solicitors. Florence is also a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), the leading professional association in this field. Refreshments will be provided. There is no charge but a donation to our charity of the year, Southmead NICU Babies Fund, would be appreciated. To book a place at one of our workshops please telephone: 0117 9621205, email probate@amdsolicitors.com or call in to one of our four Bristol offices: 100 Henleaze Road, Henleaze BS9 4JZ 15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS 139A Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL 2 Station Road, Shirehampton BS11 9TT
www.amdsolicitors.com
Westbury on Trym Office 0117 962 1973 Westbury on Trym £339,950 Church Rd - Two bedroom cottage
Exuding charm and character, with modern twists this quaint period cottage is located opposite the historic 11th century Holy Trinity Church in the heart of the village. 2 reception rooms, one located at the front of the house and the other open plan to the fitted kitchen; the focal point of the house being perfect for entertaining. First floor bathroom as well as the two spacious bedrooms. The master bedroom being the width of the house. A private garden sits to the rear, a calm little oasis.
Westbury on Trym £489,999 Stoke Lane - Three bedroom semi
Extremely spacious beautiful semidetached home located on Stoke Lane at the village end less than 200 yards from the heart of Westbury on Trym. Circa 1900's and offering stylish accommodation consisting entrance vestibule, entrance hall, lounge that opens to dining room, kitchen, downstairs wc and storage, landing, three bedrooms and bathroom with a separate shower cubicle. Front and rear gardens. The house is within the Free School secondary and Westbury on Trym C of E primary academy schools catchment area.
p 58
Henleaze Singing for the Brain Group
We have received some very positive feedback about the Group from its members…when Our Group began on 7th February 2013, assisted people can’t attend, they miss it….one by ‘seed’ funding from the St Monica Trust, and gentleman said at the end of one session that it made him feel like he was on holiday! has been meeting every first, third and fifth Thursday afternoon since then. We made a CD, and had a small version of our song book printed, and gave a copy of each to Working in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, we currently have fifteen couples on the members, who can now continue their the register, with thirteen on average attending singing at home ! We have a Henleaze song … we expect numbers to increase shortly. We book and a good selection of percussive meet in the Bradbury Hall which is an excellent instruments…..our Suggestion Box, and our questionnaire, where we find out what our venue. members’ musical tastes are, both help to keep the Group very ‘user friendly’. A group of 12 volunteers support the group. They set up the hall and café area, welcome people and assist with car parking, join in with Everyone involved, both members and volunteers and facilitator, are delighted with the the singing and lead some of the songs and way the Group has developed. clear up at the end of each session. One volunteer accompanies the singing on the For more details of how to get involved please piano. Knowledge and awareness of the needs call Monica Rudston on 0117 942 6095 or email of people with Alzheimers has increased, and Monica at monica.rudston@gmail.com volunteers are included in any training that the Alzheimer’s Society is running.
p 59
The Veg Growers Diary � Reg Patch What to sow and grow in June is pretty much up to your likes and dislikes as this is the month when the ground has warmed up, the sun's shining and the garden is in full swing. You can't beat home grown, so do have a go whatever your size of plot and remember lots of veggies grow well in pots or grow-bags, so no reason to not have a go if space is at a premium. All salad leaves will germinate in record time now, and some of the 'cut and come again' varieties can save you a small fortune from those sold in supermarkets in plastic bags, that have been washed in chemically enriched water, nasty business. I love 'Rocket' and from a small packet of seeds, we can enjoy this peppery salad crop for weeks and weeks. Sow direct in a sunny spot Pak Choi, Peas, Radish, Carrots, Beetroot and Spinach. Make sure to thin out seedlings to required spaces with the thinnings enjoyed as 'micro crops' very tasty... Give some thought to winter crops as Broccoli can be sown now in nursery beds to be transplanted when summer crops are over. Harvest crops when young and sweet, particularly important with Carrots, as they often take on a different flavour as they mature, and it's great to enjoy them at all stages of growth. Plant of the Month - Cucumbers Cucumbers can be grown in the ground, in pots, in grow bags, in or out the greenhouse pending the variety. Wherever you grow them, home-grown taste fabulous and can be enjoyed in so many ways. Choose the type that's right for you, with outdoor varieties sown direct into a sunny spot in June, or in the greenhouse from March onwards. Greenhouse grown plants can be potted 3 to a grow bag, and trained up a vertical cane or wire, pinch out the growing tip when it reaches the desired size. Pinch out the tips of side shoots, two leaves beyond a female flower, (recognised by a tiny fruit behind the flower) Keep the humidity level high on hot days by watering the greenhouse floor. Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Plant outside varieties in any fertile garden soil in full sun, an addition of well rotted manure dug into the planting hole will set plants off to a flying start. Pinch out the growing tips when the
plants have developed seven leaves, and train up netting or allow to scrabble over the ground. Water well on hot days, preferably first thing in morning or evening when the sun isn't too hot, to avoid leaf scorch, and evaporation. Outdoor recommended varieties are 'Marketmore AGM' and 'Tokyo Slicer AGM' with Mini Munch (left) being a prolific cropper of small fruit that are produced over a long growing
Companion Planting . . . this doesn't mean having a friend round every time you do the gardening, although that's a nice thought... it's more about plants offering beneficial effects to one another by improving pollination and protecting against diseases. Some good examples are; plant basil close to tomatoes, as they improve the flavour of the tomatoes, and the strong scent of basil leaves ward off aphids. Chives and mint have a similar effect too.
Nasturtiums planted as a sacrificial crop ( words I always hate) are attractive to cabbage white butterflies who will lay their eggs on the nasturtiums, rendering them like lace doilies, but giving your cabbage plants a break, and a fighting chance of success. Plant calendula as they are highly attractive to beneficial pollinating insects. Plant a variety of herbs in a sunny corner to be enjoyed by the cook, and lots of beneficial pollinating insects.
(conĆ&#x;nued overleaf)Â
p 60
Book of the Month Companion Planting: The Beginners Guide to Companion Planting: Volume 1, By M Grande ÂŁ5.99 Companion planting is the strategic placement of plants in close proximity so that the plants can positively benefit each other. This allows you to maximise the use of space, whilst enjoying the natural abilities of each plant. This well written and informative book covers several topics from what companion planting is and how you can benefit, companion planting strategies, beneficial insects and how to attract them, planning a companion planted garden, how to organically repel pests and disease and Allopathy: The chemical abilities of plants. This book provides a strong reference for those looking to learn companion planting, and is guaranteed to help grow bigger and better plants if grown by this method.
Edible flowers add colour, flavour and texture to both savoury and sweet dishes, as well as with cordials, oils and butters. A wide range of annuals and perennial flowers can be grown now. Summer is 'salad season' and lots of flowers can be enjoyed as an attractive addition to a salad. Try the vibrant petals of Calendulas, sprinkled over a salad or added to a cheese sandwich, I was sceptical at first but Mrs P is very persuasive and I'm never quiet sure what I will find with my Little Gem! That said I'm not sure the old boys down the allotments are convinced by Borage, Violas, Chive flowers, or rose petals tumbling out of my sandwich box, but it's a curious custom I've become quite taken with... give it a go, it's surprisingly good.
Recipe of the Month - Nasturtium Pesto Nasturtiums are very rich in Vitamin C and have numerous health benefits, particularly if taken at the onset of a cold. They are delicious used in salads, with both the leaves and flowers having an interesting peppery taste. The older the plants the stronger the flavour. An excellent way to enjoy Nasturtiums is to make into pesto, which also freezes well, to preserve for winter months. Ingredients: 2 pints Nasturtium leaves and flowers, half cup of sunflower seeds lightly toasted in a pan, half cup of walnut pieces, 4 cloves garlic grated, half cup of rape seed oil, 50 grams strong cheese grated, salt to taste. Method: Put the Nasturtiums, walnuts, garlic, and seeds into a food processor, once all combined slowly add the oil, then add the cheese and process to a paste, season to taste. Best enjoyed with pasta, or as a sandwich or jacket potato filling.
But most of all don't forget to sit and enjoy your plot on a fine Summers evening, as the longest day falls on the 20th June, my wedding anniversary... I'd be a brave chap to forget that date! Enjoy your garden.
p 61
p 62
p 63
Bruce Fellows Good Reads
revenge. Ackerman places the reader in Aziz’s mind as When Lucy comes round in he struggles to survive. He hospital in New York, her must learn who to trust as he mother is there, sitting and makes morally complex watching over her. She’s decisions and not least, falls amazed because her in love. Absorbing, mother has never before left informative and original, this her home town in Illinois. novel shows us Afghanistan During that long visit, from the other side. recounted in Elizabeth Strout’s novel, My Name Is From its size you Lucy Barton, our heroine might take Max re-lives her dirt-poor childhood, re-assesses her Arthur’s The Faces of parents and her upbringing and discovers why World War 1 for a her father could not bear even to look at her coffee table book but husband. She also reviews her current life and it really isn’t. The the changes that have occurred. This is a tone is set by the thought provoking and wonderfully written cover. A group of novel, a moving investigation of love and the Tommies advance power of memory. towards us led by a strapping soldier in a Want to go on Mastermind? torn white vest. This man looks so alive and so Here’s a book that will help modern that the century between disappears you out with those tricky and you feel yourself dragged into the picture. historical questions, Robert Each haunting image inside has a caption that Lacey’s Great Tales from intrigues and spurs on the imagination. The English History: the Battle book is arranged chronologically and the short of the Boyne to DNA (1690 introductions to each year provide an effective – 1953). You’ll get the history of the conflict. This is simply an excellent lowdown on Dick Turpin, survey of the Great War. the Boston Tea Party, Luddites, ‘Women and Jonathan’s photograph of a Children First!’, Phossy Jaw, Dr Crippen, Captain US soldier goes all around the Oates, Bodyline and a host of other dimly world on magazine covers remembered events in our history. Only two or and he becomes a success. three pages on each, but Lacey manages to But he still can’t go home. In evoke a period, debunk legends and put across Japan, though a foreigner, he essential facts in consistently entertaining can hide. He photographs fashion. Two earlier excellent volumes will guide gardens, Mount Fuji and you up to 1690. people on the Underground. In her gripping and evocative Elliot Ackerman’s fine novel, Green on Blue, is a novel, The Gun Room, Georgina Harding takes us tale of corruption, family and revenge. But will to the jungles of Burma and Vietnam as well as love nevertheless emerge supreme? We’re in the clear level fields of Norfolk. What is Afghanistan and when their parents are killed, Jonathan’s responsibility to the soldier he has Aziz and his elder brother are thrown on their exposed and what connects his father and his own devices. They prosper until a bomb causes girlfriend’s grandfather? Memories! They’ll do havoc. Aziz is recruited by a militia, every your head in if you’re not careful. member of which is motivated by a desire for Bruce Fellows - 2016
p 64
p 65
p 66
p 67
In the Garden with Cathy Lewis
and bamboo are perfect for this. Pick out changes in level such as steps and walls, or add a Many of us only get to enjoy our gardens in the magical glow to garden ponds. If you have a evenings after work. For much of the year the fountain, light shining up through the water can sun has set, giving little incentive to do anything look spectacular. Be subtle though. Don’t install other than stay inside and draw the curtains. lines of lights along paths and decking or your However, outdoor lighting can transform a dark garden could look like an airport runway. Steps space into a magical fairyland, inviting us should be lit from the side rather than front so outside and providing a view through the that the glare doesn’t blind you. You also need window that is far too lovely to hide behind to make sure your lighting doesn’t impact on curtains. neighbours or the environment.
Outdoor lighting can range from a few candles on a table or fairy lights in a tree, to professionally designed systems that will uplight, downlight, sidelight or silhouette every corner of the garden. Costs range from a few pounds for solar and mains-powered lights to thousands of pounds for top-of-the-range products. If you choose to have mains-powered lighting it is vital that you use a qualified electrician, and choose good quality fittings designed for the job. The good news is that the introduction of LEDs has made garden lighting much more cost-effective to run. It’s important to remember that less is usually more when it comes to lighting. Choose a few special features to highlight, such as an architectural tree or plant. Flax, yucca, grasses
There are a number of different lighting techniques to consider. How you light a feature can make a dramatic difference. For example, you can spotlight a tree by placing a light at the base. Cross lighting from the side creates texture and shadow and looks wonderful highlighting a textural plant or statue. A light in front of an interesting plant with a wall behind will create shadows, or you can place the light behind it to create a dramatic silhouette. If you need inspiration, go into your garden with a torch and see how the direction of light creates these exciting effects.
Cathy Lewis, Dip. PGSD
Cathy Lewis Gardens & Design Professional garden design, consultancy & maintenance Tel 07985 008 585 / www.cathylewisgardens.co.uk
p 68
Music with Duncan Haskell
on Paradise is reminiscent of the legendary Omar Album of the Month June Rodríguez-López’s own Paradise by White Lung (Domino) playing, making De-Loused in the Comatorium this The fourth album from month’s Next Step. Along Canadian punk rockers White with his partner in crime, Lung continues the evolution singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, of sound that began with the guitarist had formed The Mars Volta after the 2014’s Deep Fantasy. The breakup of their previous band At the Drive-In band’s hallmark ferocity is and began to explore a more experimental still evident but there is also a direction. commitment to melody which elevates Paradise to a new and exciting In some ways this should make The Mars Volta level. the anti-thesis of White Lung, a group who blitz through their songs as quickly as possible. Yet As has always been the case, the guitar trickery there’s a shared alchemy in their versatile of Kenneth William is very much at the forefront. playing styles which makes both eminently Opening track Dead Weight is an early showcase listenable. Starting with Inertiatic ESP, Rodríguez for his cascading licks and crunching riffs and the -López’s intricate and elastic display lifted the frantic fretwork continues throughout, peaking record to another plain. Tracks such as on Kiss Me When I Bleed and the blistering Drunkship of Lanterns, Cicatriz ESP and Vegas. He even has time to perfect some heavy Televators were the perfect platform for his metal posturing on I Beg You. Perhaps most expansive nature. impressively is the restraint he exhibits on the stadium-sized anthem Below, which creates The album allowed The Mars Volta to push the space over which Mish Way’s vocals can fly. post-hardcore sound of their previous band to its absolute limit. Songs like Roulette Dares (The This isn’t to do a disservice to the rest of the Haunt Of) may have revealed glimpses of their band. Anne-Marie Vassiliou’s drumming propels creator’s former glories but they never settled in the record along. On Demented they twist and the familiar for long. Instead what they ended up tease through an array of tempos before letting with was a free jazz odyssey played by aliens, led everything go with the scattergun assault of by Rodríguez-López’s and his unrivalled Sister. Way’s vocal may be battle-scarred from creativity. years of touring but they’re as unshackled and passionate as ever. Lyrically, tales of serial killers Gig of the Month (Sister and Demented) sit alongside Way’s more C.W. Stoneking @ Thekla, Wednesday 29th confessional moments (Kiss Me When I Bleed June and Paradise) and come together to paint a rounded picture of their creator’s unique world Our final guitarslinger this view. month is C.W. Stoneking, an Australian blues musician Though still fast and furious in places, Paradise is who always puts on a a definite progression for White Lung. They’ve spectacular show and loves taken their uncompromising punk ethos and to tell a story through his moved a tiny step closer to the mainstream. Far songs. On his latest record, from weakening their offering it makes them an Gon’ Boogaloo, he has altogether more thrilling proposition and proves expanded his sound to incorporate styles such that dynamic musicianship and a DIY mentality as calypso and rock n roll and it sees him don’t have to be confined to the shadows. reembrace the potential of the electric guitar. Like the discovery of a lost relic, spending an Next Step evening with Stoneking is a fascinating and De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars richly rewarding experience. If you’re lucky he Volta (Universal Records) might even get his yodel out. Something about Kenneth William’s guitar work
Duncan Haskell - June 2016
p 69
p 70
What’s On & Community News Listings for community events, not-for-profit clubs and charitable activities are free of charge. If you have something of this nature that you would like listed please get in touch by calling 0117 259 1964 or 07845 986650, email andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, or post details in to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY. All notices must be received by the 15th of the preceding month to guarantee consideration for inclusion. Details shown are accurate to the best of my knowledge, but dates, times & locations may change without notification. So if you are unsure, and to avoid disappointment, please contact the organiser listed to double check.
Theatre, Concerts & Music Bristol Concert Orchestra's concert at St George's Bristol on 25th June at 7.30pm features Dvorak's Cello Concerto (with soloist Matthew Barley), Brahms's 2nd Symphony and the effervescent Overture, Polka and Dance of the Comedians from Smetana's The Bartered Bride. There will be a retiring collection for The Forever Friends Appeal. Tickets priced £8-£15 (concessions £2 discount), children £1 are available from St George’s Bristol in person, by phone on 0845 40 24 001 or from www.bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk. On Saturday 11th June 2016 7.30 pm, Bristol Cathedral BS1 5TJ, Bristol Choral Society present a 2 part concert. Part 1: Royal Music to celebrate HM The Queen’s 90th Official birthday, featuring ‘I was Glad’ – Parry, ‘Crown Imperial’ – Walton, ‘Orb and Sceptre’ – Walton, and ‘Zadok the Priest’ - Handel. Part 2: Sergei Rachmaninov - Vespers. Tickets from £10 to £22. (under 25s £5.00, Seniors 10% discount) Full details at www.bristolchoral.co.uk. Book online at www.bristolchoral.co.uk or by phone on 0845 652 1823 Nova, Bristol’s early music vocal ensemble invites you to an evening of musical splendour. ‘Monteverdi: Sacred & Profane’. Madrigals, motets and a thrilling Magnificat by this master of the early baroque period. The programme includes the passionate Lamento d’Arianna. All Saints Church, Pembroke Rd, Clifton. June 19th 7.30pm. Programme £8 at the door. Henbury Singers Pudding Concert. Saturday 25th June 2016 at 7.30pm the Henbury singers are singing some lighter music for a summer’s evening at the Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. The programme will be conducted by Richard Jones. Tickets £9 (£8 for parties of six or more).
Advance tickets only. Summer desserts and soft drinks are provided. You are welcome to BYO wine and glasses if you wish. Henbury Singers welcome new members. We meet at Stoke Bishop Primary School in Cedar Park on Thursday evenings - 7:45 to 9:15 pm. Fees are currently £40 per term. There is no audition. We sing mainly choral music from a classical tradition, but we also sing carols, songs from musicals, gospel and folk songs. For membership or concert tickets contact Maggie Cavanna 0117 973 4794 or secretary@henburysingers.org or from choir members. A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Bristol Botanic Garden, 30 June 2016, 7.30 pm -11.00 pm. Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Shakespeare's best-loved romantic comedy at the Botanic Garden in conjunction with the Bristol Shakespeare Festival. Let yourself be whisked away on a thrilling journey to the most magical of forests and meet star-crossed lovers, playful fairies and hilarious travelling players. Beautifully designed Elizabethan costumes, a wonderful new musical score and enchanting woodland creatures go to make this an evening of unmissable summer garden theatre. Adult £14 / Child £8.50 / Family (2 Adults and 2 Children) £40. 10% discount for parties of 10 or more. Gates open at 6pm; please bring your own rugs or low-backed seating. Further information: www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden/ events/2016/a-midsummer-nights-dream.html University of Bristol Botanic Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1JG Tel: 0117 331 4906 E:botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk. www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden Bristol Cathedral Choir School Summer Concert and Pudding Tasting at St Albans Church, Bayswater Avenue, Westbury Park, Wednesday 22nd June at 7.30pm. Enjoy a programme of light music and some delicious puddings with guest soloist Conductor Geoffrey Wickham and pianist Hazel Wickham. Tickets £ 10 including Puddings, available from 0117 962 3108/ 0117 924 1318 or from choir members or at the door The Elgar Society is dedicated to promoting the works of Sir Edward Elgar, our greatest English composer. Our next meeting is on Saturday 25 June at 2.15 at the Bristol Music Club, 76 St Paul’s Road, BS8 1LP. Limited free parking is available at 1 Pembroke Road. Admission for visitors costs £3.00 including refreshments. Michael Butterfield will give a talk on Elgar’s early cantata, King Olaf. This will take the form of a PowerPoint presentation with numerous slides and musical examples. In the early years of the 20th Century King Olaf was the
p 71
Have you no ced some people in the local community are looking fi er and healthier than ever? The reason may be put down to their par cipa on in the Exercise Referral Scheme at the local leisure centre. It is a scheme run in partnership with Bristol City Council and the NHS to offer reduced price supervised physical ac vity sessions for those people with health condi ons. Local resident and recent par cipant Stephen says “I have been so impressed with the scheme and its effect on my health that I have now become a member of the leisure centre in order to con nue my progress. Before beginning the programme my muscles were very weak but now my muscle performance and coordinated movement has improved significantly. It is my hope that others with the same needs will take the same opportunity”. Whether you would like to shi a few pounds, improve your mobility or stamina or if you have a longer las ng condi on such as high blood pressure, diabetes or a joint problem you are eligible to join. It could not be simpler. All you need to do is download a referral form at the link below then see your GP and they can refer you on to the programme. Your body will thank you for it! Alistair Macfarlane alistairmacfarlane@everyoneac ve.com 07825 033741 www.bristol.gov.uk/ac vechoices
p 72
What’s On & Community News most often performed of all Elgar’s choral works. Performances are now rare, but this is a glorious work and deserves to much better known. Saturday June 18th at Holy Trinity Church W-o-T. Organ Elevenses with Oliver Condy. We are pleased to welcome back Oliver for another recital, always an interesting programme, well presented. Oliver is Editor of the BBC Music Magazine as well as being a talented organist and choral tenor. Coffee and cake at 10-30. Music at 11. At £5, this must be Westbury's best kept secret.
orchestral playing not essential. For more info please contact the Secretary on 968 3998. The Redland Green Choir’s Summer Concert will take place on 9th July at St Alban’s Church, Westbury Park (7.30pm, tickets £8/£6). The main work will be Brahms’s majestic German Requiem, and the choir, under its dynamic young director Nicholas Bromilow, will perform in partnership with the Long Ashton Orchestra. For more details visit www.rgscommunitychorus.wordpress.com.
Ship & Castle Theatre Company’s next production is 'The Truth, and Other Lies' based on the short stories ‘In a grove’ and ‘Rashomon’ by Bristol Cabot Choir – Summer Concert - High Ryonosuke Akutagawa. A murder is witnessed by Days and Holidays – Saturday, 2 July 2016 at four people who all give a different account, that Christchurch Clifton at 7.30 pm - featuring sparkling involves various characters providing alternative, modern arrangements of favourite vintage songs, self-serving and contradictory versions of the same sea shanties, surprising musical takes on the Samba incident, who is telling the truth and why should and the Fugue and more! Conducted by Rebecca anyone lie. Come and find out. Tickets are £10 Holdeman and accompanied by Joachim each - Unreserved seating. Newman Hall, Grange Schwander. Tickets: £10 and £5 (NUS card and Court Rd, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 4DR under 18s). From Opus 13, 14 St Michael’s Hill, Monday 4th July – Friday 8th July 2016 at 7:30pm Bristol BS2 8DT Contact the Box Office on 07745 208639 or Ticket Line: 0117 923 0164 or tickets on line at email shipandcastletickets@yahoo.co.uk www.wegottickets.com/event/361172 (+10% booking fee). Retiring collection for Bristol The Filtones' Annual Charity Concert in aid of Samaritans Arthritis Research UK takes place on Saturday 18 June, 7.30 p.m. at Eden Grove Methodist Church, It's Your Ceili! All dances called and live music Eden Grove, Horfield, BS7 0PQ. Tickets £7.50 Inc. provided by the excellent Highly Strung Band. refreshments . from 0117 9690654 or at the door. www.HighlyStrungCommunityBand.co.uk 2016 www.thefiltones.weebly.com Series: Friday 1st July, Friday 2nd September, Friday 4th November. 7.30p.m. to 10.30p.m. St. Bristol Ladies Choir is celebrating their 90th Alban's Hall, Westbury Park, BS6 7NU. All profit to anniversary this year and are giving their annual St. Peter's Hospice. Licensed cash bar. Tickets £10 charity concert for the RNLI on Friday June 17th at in advance e ticket: www.ticketline.co.uk Tyndale Baptist Church, Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, at Enquiries - Jill Elliot - 01275 847 909 - 07515 904 7.30pm. Tickets £6 at the door or from choir 707 - jillyelliot@gmail.com members or tel 0117 9246587. Westbury on Trym Methodist Church Orchestra are a group of instrumentalists of all ages who play for morning worship once a month. Our rehearsal time is before the service from 10am. If you play any orchestral instrument, but particularly violin, you are very welcome to join us. Experience of orchestral playing is not essential, but you will need to be able to read music. We’re a friendly and helpful group, who enjoy playing together. Parts are always provided for personal practice. To find out more telephone 9686589.
Vocal Harmony - an exciting contemporary choir based in Bristol. Meet new people, learn contemporary songs and have a lot of fun along the way! You do not need to read music and there is no audition. We sing modern music by the likes of Adele, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Take That, Queen, all parts are taught in call and response. We run three 10 week terms, with a performance at the end of each term. FFI contact eliza@vocalharmonychoir.co.uk or visit www.vocalharmonychoir.co.uk.
West Bristol Orchestra. A chamber orchestra, playing a wide range of classical music arranged for the smaller orchestra, meets at the United Reformed Church, Muller Road on Thursdays 7.15pm to 9.15pm. Additional string players of Grade5+ standard welcome. Experience of
Wednesday afternoon choir. Ever thought of joining a choir? Why not come along on and exercise your lungs and challenge your grey cells with our friendly group of people who are The Filtones. We are actively seeking to recruit altos, tenors (gents or ladies) and basses to join our
p 73
p 74
What’s On & Community News
The city of Bristol has a long tradition of trade with countries bordering the Baltic Sea. Bristol Bach happy band. We sing four part harmony, but ability Choir continues that spirit of exchange in a to read music, although useful, is not essential as programme that showcases choral music by the we supply CDs and MP3 files as teaching aids. We finest contemporary composers from Estonia, give afternoon concerts to elderly people's clubs Finland, Sweden, Poland and Latvia alongside and societies around Bristol and two evening pieces by the 16th century English masters, William concerts in June and December from which we Byrd and Robert Parsons and Germany’s Dietrich donate much of our profit to charities. For more Buxtehude. In the year we celebrate the 400th information please ring Jilly on 0117 9232281 or anniversary of the death of another great 16th Shirley on 0117 9654348 or e mail genius - William Shakespeare - the concert includes dorothy.bryant@btinternet.com. or go to our web settings of his immortal words to music by site www.thefiltones.weebly.com Alternatively, just Vaughan Williams and two current Scandinavian call in at Eden Grove Methodist Church Horfield composers, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi and Nils Lindberg. BS7 0PQ between 1.30 and 3.45 pm on a From the tranquility and reverence of Arvo Pärt’s Wednesday afternoon for a listen and a chat - you The Beatitudes and Paweł Łukaszewski’s Nunc can be assured of a very warm welcome! Dimittis to the complex counterpoint of Byrd and Tallis the music is by turn serene, dramatic, The Mosaic Singers are a compact group and consoling, uplifting and above all, a real joy to currently seek an accomplished bass to complete a listen to. Saturday 25 June, 7.30pm, at St Mary nicely balanced mix of voices. We rehearse in Stoke Redcliffe. Tickets: £20, £15, £10: students and under Bishop on Tuesday evenings, where a warm and 25s, £5. bristolbach.org.uk 0117 214 0721. friendly welcome is assured. Please phone David on 0797 346 0994. Kirtan Fest Bristol – a 7 hour kirtan concert for lovers of kirtan and devotional chanting – 3 pm to Henleaze Ladies Choir is a friendly welcoming 10 pm, Sat 3rd Sept, Newman Hall, Westbury-ongroup which meets in St Peters Church Hall, Trym. Tickets £24, includes Asian vegetarian meal. Henleaze, on Thurs between September and May Proceeds go to homelessness projects. Book via from 1.45 – 3.45 pm (with a short break for tea). We Eventbrite under 7 hour kirtan fest and follow us on give 2 charity concerts a year in December and May FB KirtanBristol. in St Peters Church Hall and from time to time we are invited to entertain community groups around Stoke Bishop Ladies Choir meet at Stoke Bishop the city. There are also occasional social events Village Hall, new members welcome and no organised. We are always pleased to see new auditions are necessary. We are a friendly group members but would particularly welcome first that sings for pleasure, and we hold a concert at the sopranos at the moment. Please come and try a end of each term (Christmas and Easter) to raise rehearsal without obligation. To find out more money for charity. Please contact Maureen on please contact either Jane English (0117 951 1430 9567894 or Carolyn on 2791409 for more or 07752 332278) or Jean Wickham (0117 962 information. 4466): Bristol Cabot Choir is delighted to welcome new members for all voice parts. Why not come and sing with us for 2/3 ‘taster’ rehearsals before a simple audition? We meet at Redland URC on Mondays at 7.30 pm. For more details please email admin@bristolcabotchoir.org, visit www.bristolcabotchoir.org; or find us on Facebook.
Gardening & Horticulture
Stoke Lane Community Garden Open Day is on Saturday 4 June 13:00 - 16:00. There will be plant sales, allotment tours, refreshments and fun for all the family. We are keen to get more volunteers involved in maintaining the garden. Come along any Saturday morning or contact Dave Turner on 0117 9624904. This event is part of the Get Growing Bristol Cathedral Choir School Choral Society is Garden Trail. Details of all gardens open that always looking for new singers to join our choir! We weekend can be found here: are an enthusiastic amateur choir specialising www.bristolfoodnetwork.org/blog/annual-bristolmainly in classical works, and are loosely associated get-growing-garden-trail/ with the Choir School, joining in with some of their concerts and using the school (on College Green) Stoke Bishop Open Gardens, Sunday 26th June for practice on Wednesday evenings. There is no from 1pm to 5pm (last entry to gardens). Enjoy an audition and no requirement for musical expertise. inspirational afternoon exploring hidden gardens Contact mattmsmith@virginmedia.com if you are in Stoke Bishop, featuring ten gardens on a trail interested. from Stoke Bishop Village Hall. Passports £5 per
p 75
p 76
What’s On & Community News person (children free) available throughout June from Aimee's Wine House (Stoke Hill) and the Church Hall, Mariners Drive and on the day from any participating garden and Stoke Bishop Village Hall. Teas in Stoke Bishop Village Hall. Proceeds in aid of local charities - Kewstoke Road scout hut appeal, Stoke Bishop hanging baskets and University of Bristol Botanic Garden. Further information visit www.stokebishop.org.uk/ opengardens. Telephone 0117 968 6592 Forthcoming Sea Mills Garden Club events include on 15 June an evening walk along the banks of the River Avon to look at wildflowers. After a short summer break we will resume our regular monthly meetings, every 3rd Wednesday, held at Sea Mills Methodist Rooms, Sea Mills Square at 7.30 pm with the first one being on 21 Sept when John Addison will talk about Small Shrubs in the Garden. Visitors always welcome at £3 per meeting. Hope to see you there. FFI contact Gail Mitchell 0117 9685350 or Esme James 0117 9682571 Henleaze & District Flower Club will be holding a members fun competitions day on Thursday 28th July from 1.30pm at the Bradbury Hall Henleaze. Non members are most welcome at a charge of £5 to include refreshments and quiche or cake. Do come along and see a wide selection of floral arrangements created by members. For further details contact Debbie Ward on 01179 629776 The Alpine Garden Society meet on the 3rd Friday of the month at Westbury Methodist Church, Westbury Hill, at 7.30pm. We have speakers on various topics, plant sales and social events. Visitors are very welcome at £2 a visit. Henleaze & District Flower Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road in Henleaze. Flower demonstrations are held on the second Thursday and practice classes on the fourth Thursday. New members always welcome. For more details please contact Debra Ward on 07974 937741 / debragailward@hotmail.com Friends of Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve. It only costs £5 a year to become a friend of the nature reserve, a wonderful area for wildlife in Stoke Bishop. The land is owned by the council and run with the help of volunteers & Friends. There are 4 newsletters a year, and regular events on the reserve. Fore more details please check www.spnaturereserve.com. Henleaze Garden Club is a thriving club for
anyone interested in anything to do with gardening! We meet the first Wednesday of each month in the main hall at St Monica's, Cote Lane, with a summer break when the club arranges coach trips. Expert speakers, a quarterly newsletter, and great Christmas event. Annual membership is £20 plus a £1 per visit, visitors are most welcome at £5 per visit. Contact Brian Dury on 9621227 or www.henleazegardenclub.co.uk for more info.
Fitness, Sport, Walking & Dancing Hydrotherapy Exercise Sessions - group exercise in lovely warm water at Southmead Hospital's purpose built pool. Benefits include relaxation, relief of pain & swelling, improved movement, balance & fitness. All ages & abilities welcome. We are a friendly local team of Chartered Physiotherapists with expertise in a variety of disabilities & medical conditions. We have a regular group of local members but new people are always welcome. For more details please contact Chris & Ali Cowley on 07971 086 628, email healthyhydrotherapy@gmail.com or visit www.healthyhydrotherapy.co.uk. Shirehampton Cricket Club welcomes new members. All playing ages and abilities will be encouraged to improve their skills. If you are enthusiastic, willing to learn and want to enjoy our excellent facilities then please contact shirehamptoncc@gmail.com and see website www.shirecc.net for more information. Check out the dates for indoor practice sessions. Westbury Walkers is a group of walkers who assemble at Lloyds Chemist Canford Lane Westbury on Trym. We meet usually at 9.20 am on a Tuesday morning. New walkers always welcome. If you would like details of any of our forthcoming walks please contact Jean Maish 0117 3301194 / 07789 741892, email jmaish@blueyonder.co.uk. Drop-In Healing Centre at The Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, BS6 6JE. Thursdays from 5.00pm to 6.30pm. Run by Bristol Healing Group on a donation basis and supported by members of NFSH The Healing Trust. Healing is beneficial for well-being and health, helping you to relax and feel better. Come along and try a healing session, everyone is welcome. For more information phone 0117 9820184. Westbury Park Tennis Club is a small, friendly tennis club with floodlights for year round play. We welcome members from 8-80. Adult open evenings on Tuesdays. Call Greg on 0117 9425168 for more information.
p 77
p 78
What’s On & Community News Tai Chi – These gentle movements can ease the body, quiet the mind and restore vitality. Local friendly classes with an experienced teacher. Classes at all levels at The Greenway Centre and other Bristol locations. Why not come and find out more? Contact Karen on 0117 9424167, see www.taijiworks.co.uk or email taijiworks@phonecoop.coop. Dance fitness - for flexibility, co-ordination and body conditioning, exercise to music every Tuesday, 2pm - 3pm at Filton Folk Centre, Elm Park, BS34 7PS. Have fun whilst keeping fit, all abilities welcome. FFI contact Eileen Scott, 07969929733, e: scottyartois@hotmail.com, or visit www.emdp.org Moves Fitness - exercise to music for all ages and fitness levels at St. Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, every Wednesday morning from 10am to 11am. The session consists of structured and enjoyable routines designed to promote overall fitness and mobility. You put as much energy as you feel like it on the day and you should leave feeling great. This is a friendly welcoming class - come and give it a try - £5 per session. For more info phone Jane on 9681042 or visit www.movesfitness.com Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing (TMW) is a specially developed sequence of movements which promotes physical, mental and emotional health. Based on the essential elements of both Tai Chi and Chi Kung, the simple TMW sequence is easy to learn, allowing greater confidence, reducing stress and releasing tension. Courses start regularly at Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, BS9. £68 including DVD or book for support at home. Contact experienced teacher Jackie Wright on 07741 609885/jackie@tmwtraining.com
of all standards and ages. Whether you are an established player looking for a club, someone who is rusty or a student come along and try us out. FFI please visit www.henleazeltc.com or contact the secretary Philip Price Tel: 07787 566246 E-mail: philpriceqs@gmail.com Zumba Gold / Light 5.30pm/ Zumba Fitness 6.35pm. Westbury -on-Trym Village Hall. Weds. £5 on door. Just drop in with water and a sense of humour! Phone Marie on 963 4104 or visit www.bristoldancezumba.co.uk for more info. Tai Chi Classes for beginners - Put a spring in your step this Spring. Always wanted to try Tai Chi? For centuries the Chinese have practised Tai Chi as simple but powerful form of exercise for strength, balance and mindfulness. The Bristol School of Tai Chi has lots of daytime and evening classes in Henleaze and Bishopston starting from the 19 April. For more details call Ben Milton 0117 9493955, send an email to taichi@bristoltaichi.com or visit our website www.bristoltaichi.com The Lawrence Weston Badminton Club play at the Greenaway Centre ,Greystoke Ave in Southmead on a Monday night from 7.00pm until 8.30pm. Our players are of a good standard, both male and female, and we are a very friendly club. We would welcome new players – please contact Marilyn on 0117 239 1005 for more details. Scottish Country Dancing for beginners and experienced dancers at St Monica Trust’s Hall on Thursdays, 7.30 pm. New dancers welcome - come on your own or with friends. Contact Margaret, 01275 794638 or Graham 01275 854782, or visit www.rscdsbristolinfo.co.uk
Lipreading class. An evening lipreading class to help you cope with your hearing loss runs in Clifton Bristol Shambhala Meditation Group offers free from 6.15pm to 7.45pm every Monday, term time meditation instruction from a qualified instructor at only, at Redland Park United Reformed Church, the Open House evening each Wednesday from Whiteladies Road. Fee is £6 per session. For more 7.30 - 9.30 pm at 17 Lower Redland Road, Redland, details please email Mary Hall at BS6 6TB and the opportunity for a longer period of lipreadingmary@yahoo.com or telephone 07790 practice on the second Sunday of each month. 283 939. Although this meditation practice has its origins in Buddhism, the mindfulness which it cultivates can Fancy a ramble? How about joining us for be of support to those from any or no tradition. FFI enjoyable 8-10 mile walks on two Sundays per please visit www.bristol.shambhala.info month ? Our usual group size is 12-15 walkers. Interested ? If so, please come and give Stoke Pilates Classes at Trinity Henleaze URC on Lodge Ramblers a try. For more details visit Waterford Road. Tuesday 9:30-10:30 (improver), www.stokelodgeramblers.wordpress.com or phone 10:30-11:30 (beginner), Wednesday 18:15-19:15 Secretary 0117 9684140. (intermediate). For bookings please call Leanne on 07817189474 or visit www.pilatesdowntime.co.uk Bristol based charity LinkAge hold a number of fitness classes for the over 55’s running in the Henleaze Tennis Club has vacancies for players Henleaze area. Contemporary Dance 55+ on
p 79
p 80
What’s On & Community News Monday from 10am-11am at Bradbury Hall, Trinity Henleaze Church. Cost £4. Tai Chi 55+ on Tuesday between 11am-12pm at Studland Court Community Room, Henleaze. Cost £3.50. Zumba Gold 55+ on Tuesday between 1pm-2pm at St Peters Church, Henleaze. Cost £4. For more details please contact Laura on 0117 353 3042 or visit www.LinkAgeBristol.org.uk Zumba Gold Class @ Horfield Parish Church Hall every Weds 2pm-2.45pm (£4.00 per class) for the mature movers aimed at age 55+ (All other ages including Beginners) Zumba Class @ Orchard School every Thurs 7pm-8pm Contact Georgina for further details on www.bristolzumba.com or tel: 07545 625 089. Westbury Scottish Club country dancing classes for beginners at Leonard Hall, Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Henleaze. Tel. Maggie on 01934 838175. Classes for more advanced dancers at St Peter’s Church Hall, Henleaze. Tel. Cheryl on 0117 9590970. Every Tues 7.30 - 9.30pm. See www.wscbristol.com for details.
Volunteering & Charities Would you like the chance to go camping, climbing, get involved with community projects while transforming young people's lives? 227th Bristol Scout Group are looking for leaders to help plan and deliver a safe and exciting programme for young people. Joining a team of experienced adult volunteers you will help to inspire young people. For more information please contact Sarah on 07828865430
reading, and individual attention is always a great way to do it. Volunteering is a great way to stay active and to feel useful, so if you are interested in joining us please get in touch. Contact Mina on 07860 669953, or explore the website RSVPwest.org.uk Wanted - Volunteer Drivers for transport, once or twice a week, of local elderly patients to the Westbury doctors’ surgery or to a hospital. We have a small group of volunteer drivers, all over 50, who enjoy being active in the Westbury community. Please come and join us and experience the gratification from helping others in your own neighbourhood. We operate within the Charity RSVP-West, who provide us with liability insurance for these drives and with practical help and advice. And of course we work closely with the Staff of the Westbury-on-Trym practice. For information please contact Zina Wilson on tel.nr 9078744 or by e-mail on Bernzina@blueyonder.co.uk , or ask the Westbury Practice Reception or your local GP on tel. 9623406. Do you love Weddings? Westbury-on-Trym Village hall is a very popular wedding venue and has another busy wedding schedule set for 2016. We're looking for more volunteers to help these events run smoothly. If you're interested, please contact Debbie Furlong on 07791 882127.
Volunteers needed to support carers. Could you please help us develop and increase our support to carers, people looking after an unwell, disabled or elderly family member or friend in Bristol and South Gloucestershire? Could you help us develop the support that carers can access through their G.P. surgery and other sources? If you are outgoing and could offer two mornings a month to meet, greet and give information to carers when they visit their REMAP is a registered charity that designs and makes custom aids which enable a disabled person GP surgery, I would very glad to hear from you. Full to enjoy a better quality of life. We design, make or training and support for this role is provided. Please contact me, Mike Hatch, GP Carer Link Volunteer on modify equipment to suit their specific needs. No charge is made for our services. Please contact us if 07503 577830: alternatively please send an e-mail with your name and telephone number to we can help - visit www.remapbristol.org.uk, mikeh@carerssupportcentre.org.uk If you look contact Colin 01275 460288 colin305@gmail.com after someone who couldn’t manage without you, or contact Ray 0117 9628729 and would like some information about our rwestcott@blueyonder.co.uk services for carers or would just like someone to RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme). talk to about caring for the person you look after, Do you like reading? Do you like helping children? please telephone our Carersline on 0117 965 2200 If yes to both, you are just the sort of person we are or visit www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk . looking for! If you can spare a minimum of an hour Reading Buddies Wanted! Would you enjoy a week to hear children read in a local school you offering reading and language support to children could make a huge difference. Our volunteers do for whom English is a second language? Can you not teach children to read, but spend time on an individual basis with them, hearing them read and help them improve their reading ability, benefiting both them as individuals and the wider class? Can talking to them about the stories in their reading you commit to giving one hour of reading time a books. We want children to enjoy books and
p 81
p 82
What’s On & Community News week in term-time? We are working with twelve schools in the Southmead, Brentry and Horfield areas. Training is offered, & your enhanced DBS check is paid for by Bristol City Council. You would read with the same children each week and be part of a growing group of well over 100 volunteers. For more information please contact Paul Harrod, paul.harrod@gmail.com
Friendship, Social and Support Groups Stoke Bishop Townswomen's Guild will meet in the Hulbert Room, up the path next to the steps to the main hall at St Mary Magdalene Church, Mariner's Drive, Stoke Bishop at 2pm on Thursday, 2nd June come rain or shine! Visitors are welcome free of charge so why not look in and see if you like us, we're a small friendly group and would be glad to see you. Henbury ‘Blaise’ Womens’ Institute meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in Henbury Village Hall next to the church. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Contact 962 9400 for more details or just come along!
auctions for example. Lots of fun and fellowship raising money for very good causes. For more details see Bristol Brunel Lions Club on line or contact our Club Secretary Bill O’Neill at lion.bill@virginmedia.com. Westbury Park WI has changed its meeting day to the first Wednesday in the month. Guests are welcome, it costs £4 per session and it is possible to be a guest 3 times in a year without having to become a member. We meet at Westmoreland Hall, Westmoreland Road, Redland from 7.30pm. The Bristol and District branch of Parkinson's UK meet every first Saturday of the month at St Monica Trust, Cote Lane, BS9 3UN from 10am -12 noon. Carers, relatives, spouses and people with Parkinson's - all are welcome for a social and informative get-together, with speakers from a variety of backgrounds with many diverse interests. Please join us. We also meet at The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze, BS9 4NQ every second Friday in the month for an informal coffee morning from 11am. We are a friendly and supportive bunch, exchanging tactics, information and social banter!
On the first Tuesday of the month the North Bristol Alzheimer Café opens at St Monica Trust, Oatley House Atrium restaurant, Westbury-on-Trym, St Mary’s Church is open to visitors each Bristol, BS9 3TN from 3.30pm – 5.30pm. We provide morning from 10.00am to 12.00 noon, with a a relaxed and safe space in which issues Coffee morning every Tuesday. All Welcome (especially those with young children – toddler toys surrounding dementia can be aired in a friendly and informal environment. Our café is staffed by and books available). Our Bright Sparks Carer and Toddler group meets each Monday in term time at trained, caring and experienced volunteers and you will find a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 1.30pm at St Marys, Stoke Bishop. 9687449 for Every week refreshments are served and most more details. weeks live music is played. There is no charge to attend, free on-site parking is usually available and Toddler group. We meet every Wednesday during term time in the Leonard Hall in Waterford the number 1 bus stops right outside. FFI or to register your attendance contact Jacqui Ramus Rd Trinity Henleaze 1.30 pm -3 30 pm We are a (Dementia Lead for St Monica Trust) on 07854 small informal group and welcome parents 185093 / email jacqui.ramus@stmonicatrust.org.uk grandparents, nannies etc. The cost is £1.50 to include refreshments. Do come and join us. Toddler Worship, every Second Wednesday at 9.30am - A time for little ones to make a joyful Trinity Henleaze Ladies Guild meet fortnightly on Monday evenings at 7.30pm in the Leonard Hall noise, sing and listen to a Bible story together with their grown-ups followed by play time, coffee and Waterford Road. Good varied programme of cakes for the adults and juice for little ones . An speakers followed by tea and coffee. All are welcome. For further information contact Jenny on opportunity for Mums, Dads and other carers to chat while their children play together. Next 9620108. session 13th April at St Marys, Stoke Bishop. For Bristol Brunel Lions Club. We have our business more details please call 9687449. meeting at Shirehampton Golf Club on the first Bristol Grandparents Support Group gives Tuesday of every month at 7 for 7.30. On the 3rd Tuesday of each month we have a social gathering support to grandparents who are estranged from their grandchildren due to family breakdown. normally with food. We raise money for charity Family breakdown can be as a result of separation/ both locally and beyond through a variety of divorce, alcohol/drug dependency, domestic activities - our Frogs game, our new Racing Pigs violence within the home, bereavement or family game, our carol float at Christmas, quizzes and
p 83
p 84
What’s On & Community News feud. We give support over the phone, via email, Skype and at our regular meetings held at 9, Park Grove, Bristol. BS6 7XB. Tel 07773 258270 more information or visit www.bgsg.co.uk
Westbury on Trym Women’s Institute meets on the 3rd Monday of the month in the WoT Methodist Church Hall, next to the car park, at 2.00pm. We have a programme of varied speakers, outings, discussions etc. New members and visitors always welcome. For more information please contact: Sue Murphy – Tel: 950 2826.
St Peter's Ladies Guild meets at 2.15 on the third Wednesday of the month at St Peter's Church Hall, Do join us for Parish lunch at St Mary’s Church The Drive, Henleaze. Varied programme. All Stoke Bishop, every Thursday from 12.15. 3 course welcome. Further details from Wilma on 0117 buffet lunch. 9628895. Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. The Laugh, Live and Learn with Bristol U3A. We have Westbury-on-Trym group welcomes all retired Civil lots on offer for those who would like to make new Servants and their spouses to their meetings held friends with similar interests. If you have retired on the first Thursday of the month at Studland from full-time work, and want to take part in Court, Henleaze Road at 2.00pm, Those people enjoyable learning with friendship and fun, we without a civil service background are welcome to have a wide range of groups with over 100 join our group as Friends of the Fellowship. For different activities, including art, computing, more info phone Beryl Webb on 01454 614 451. languages, music, walking, and science. Come to one of our social groups - either at the Eastfield Inn, Westbury-on-Trym Probus Club provide a Henleaze, 10.30am on the second Thursday and meeting point for retired and semi-retired third Monday in every month, phone Barbara 0117 professional business men, to promote social well 9629331. Or at Browns Restaurant, by the Museum, being through friendship, discussion and at 10.15am on the third Wednesday and fourth companionship. The club meets on the third Thursday in every month, phone Jenny 0117 Thursday of every month at BAWA, Southmead 9043697. Please visit www.bristolu3a.org.uk. Don't Road, from 12 midday. If you are interested contact let life pass you by - make friends, learn new skills Peter Wright on 962 4196 or email and have fun with Bristol U3A! susanandpeterwright@blueyonder.co.uk The Friendly Club meets every Thursday from 2 to 4pm (except August and Christmas ) in the Methodist Church Hall, Westbury on Trym. We are a lively group of Senior Citizens who meet to chat , play Scrabble and card games. Regular trips out and entertainments are arranged plus we have delicious tea and biscuits for only £1 ! Do come and make some new friends. Transport can be arranged if needed. Contact 0117 950 8644 for more details.
Rotary Club of Bristol meet at the Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF at 7.00pm for 7.30 pm on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays and at 12.30pm for 1.00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Meetings start with a meal and are followed by a speaker. New members are very welcome – see www.bristolrotary.org or contact Martina Peattie at mpeattie@btopenworld.com for more details.
Knit and Natter. We invite you to "knit and natter" every Thursday between 10am and 12 at the Methodist Church in Westbury on Trym. It is a sociable and informal time when you can chat while pursuing your choice of crafts. If you prefer we can provide patterns for knitting for charity. Tea and coffee will be available.
Calling all Carers. Would you like the opportunity to share your experiences, relax and make new friends? Then come and join the Henleaze Carers’ Group. We meet on the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month, 10am to 12, in Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. For more information please call Mrs M Rudston 942 6095.
Men at St. Peters (MASP) is a group which meets Saturday mornings at St Peter’s Hall, Henleaze. The meetings start at 8.30am with a full English breakfast. This is then followed by entertaining and interesting talks by a guest speaker. New members are always welcome. In conjunction we also provide well directed “Keep Fit” sessions for men every Tuesday morning. Further information may be obtained from Keith Bonham tel 968 4972.
Instep Club for Widows and Widowers. Weds evenings 8.00 pm-10.00 pm at Stoke Bishop Village Hall, Stoke Hill. Dancing - Ballroom and Sequence (If you haven’t danced for a long time, don’t worry, we will help you learn). Social activities Annual membership £8. Members: £2 per session. Visitors welcome: £3 per session. Come in to see us or telephone Donna on 01275 832676 or Wilma on 9628895 for further information.
p 85
p 86
What’s On & Community News
free environment where members give helpful feedback. It’s a well structured evening, fun and The Fielder Club is an association for local relaxed with a nice mix of people. No exorbitant women - though friends and family are welcome at fees, no long term commitment. Meeting 7.30pm all events. Membership is £5 p.a. to cover delivery alternate Mondays @ BAWA Southmead Rd. of quarterly programmes of events such as lunches, Contact Ben@Bristolspeakers.co.uk theatre, visits, talks and walks. Weekly/monthly sub -clubs of badminton, book group, bridge, Henbury Art Club are looking for new members discussions, Scrabble, skittles and whist plus coffee. for our Thursday morning club, we meet at10am till Thursday mornings at Coffee#1 in WoT and twicenoon in Southmead Library, we are a very friendly monthly pub lunches. Details from Gloria on 0117 mixed ability group, and have our annual show in 239 3376 or Anne on 0117 907 7425. the Henbury Village Hall every May Day. Please contact Gill Dix by email. gill@dix.org.uk for more Henleaze Townswomen's Guild meet on the first details. Wednesday of the month (except Aug) at St Peter's Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze. Lady visitors are The Bristol Astronomical Society host a series of always most welcome to attend. Further details can talks each week and we regularly get experts to talk be obtained by ringing Shirley Phillips on 0117 962 about historical and topical aspects of astronomy, 2243. as well running hands-on demonstrations, activities, free Saturday observing sessions at our Soroptomists International Bristol are part of a Observatory in Failand (weather permitting), and global organisation founded in Bristol for women often stage "Star Parties" around Bristol and at from a wide range of professional and business Tyntesfield. All details are on our website backgrounds who have joined together to give www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk. All welcome, held at Service, Friendship and have Fun. We meet on the Bristol Photographic Society, Montpelier, BS6 5EE. second and fourth Mondays of the month at Long Ashton Golf Club where we enjoy a two course The Bristol Humanists is a local group for those who meal with a speaker. As a member of Soroptomists make sense of the world using reason & shared International we have the opportunity to form human values; who seek to live ethical lives on the friendships with other countrywide clubs and basis of reason, humanity and respect for others; throughout the world. For more details please and find meaning, beauty, and joy in the one life contact our membership officer on 0117 9739894 we have, without the need for an afterlife. We meet or email gillbea@aol.com for more details. every month on the third Monday at 7.30pm in Kingsdown. For more information contact Margaret Henleaze (Morning) Townswomen's Guild. This Dearnaley on 07986 555817 (evenings and is a recently formed Guild and we meet from weekends only) or email 10.00am – 12.00 noon on the third Thursday of bristolhumanists@gmail.com. every month at The Eastfield Inn, Henleaze Road. New members and visitors are most New Dimensions meets every month and we welcome. Further information can be obtained by have talks on a wide range of esoteric subjects. The ringing Elaine Anderson on 907 5279. meetings are held at the Friends’ Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6JE. Clifton Rotary Club welcomes new members Admission: £5 (including refreshments). The next willing to give their time, are interested in making meeting will be held on Sunday 19 June 2016 and new friends, building business contacts and using the speaker will be Anna-Marie Haigh and the title their skills to help others. We meet Wednesday of her talk will be “The Power of Chakras for Well lunchtimes at Redland Lawn Tennis and Squash Being”. Chakras are the energy centres through Club. For more details please visit which your life force is channelled. If you www.cliftonrotary.org or email strengthen your energy centres, you can empower secretary@cliftonrotary.org your life! Anna-Louise will show us how to tap into this reservoir of personal power. Come and meet new, like-minded friends. For further information, Interest Groups please telephone 01749 678 834 or email: leasurs@tiscali.co.uk Bristol Speakers. Got a speech to make? Bristol Speakers offers a relaxed environment to practise Philosophy Discussion Group. We are a friendly your public speaking. Learn how to construct and and welcoming group who enjoy taking a turn to present a speech, gain knowledge from bring topic to share. We meet at 7 – 9pm every experienced speakers, conquer your public fourth Thursday evening of the month at Eastfield speaking anxiety. Most of all, practise in a stress-
p 87
p 88
What’s On & Community News Inn, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NQ, and 10 - 12 noon every second Friday morning of the month, also at Eastfield Inn, Henleaze. If you would like to be involved please contact Lorna Tarr on 0770 245 3827. Bristol Photographic Society is based at Montpelier Central (opposite Montpelier Station) The Society caters for all levels of photographer and meets every Wednesday evening at 7.30 throughout the year when it has a full and varied programme of courses, visiting speakers and inhouse competitions. Find out more about the Society by visiting its website at www.bristolphoto.org.uk or emailing membership@bristolphoto.org.uk The Bristol Philatelic Society meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month in the meeting room of the United Reform Church at the bottom of Blackboy Hill (Whiteladies Road) starting at 7.30 p.m. Contact 0117 956 7853.
welcome. Membership is just £6 p/a and visitors pay just £2 a meeting. For more details please visit www.stokebishop.org.uk/local_history_group, call 0117 9686010 or email sblocalhistory@gmail.com. Please do also contact us if you are clearing out documents and pictures of Stoke Bishop! West of England Bridge Club meets for duplicate bridge on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Golden Hill Sports Club, Wimbledon Road, Henleaze from 7.30pm - 10.30pm. New members and visitors welcome. £4 per evening for members, £5 for non-members, special rates for juniors/ unemployed. Licensed bar. For further details please contact Gareth Evans on 0792 178 8605 or visit www.woebc.co.uk. Social Bridge, every Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. at Stoke Bishop Village Hall. New members welcome. Tel Chris on 968 5640.
Westbury Art Club meet every Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm at The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Rd, Southmead. We are a mixed ability group of artists For more details visit Twyford Art Club. We are a small group of artists www.westburyartclub.org.uk, e-mail us at of mixed ability, we meet at the public hall, Station westburyart@blueyonder.co.uk or phone our club Road, Shirehampton, 10am to 12am Mondays and secretary on Bristol 962 9799. Wednesdays, chose your day. New members warmly welcomed, help and advice given. For more Exhibitions, Meetings, Fairs & Markets information visit www.shirepubhall.org.uk, contact John Case on 950 7916 / jacase@blueyonder.co.uk Cream Tea - Saturday 11 June - 3 - 4.30pm Westbury on Trym Methodist Church - tickets just Stoke Lodge History and Archaeology Group £5.00 available from Kate (0117 4010646) or Alison meet on the second Thursday of every month at (9629715) all proceeds going to Children's Hospice the Friends Meeting House in Hampton Road, South West. Redland, BS6 6JE at 7.30. We host a rich diversity of lectures. New members are always made very Country Market. Every Friday morning from welcome. For further details please contact 10.30 to 11.30 in Westbury on Trym Methodist Annette Martin on 0117 979 3209 Church Hall. Homemade cakes, arts, crafts, plants, vegetables, jams and chutneys. Refreshments are North West Bristol Camera Club are an also available in a relaxed and friendly enthusiastic group of amateur photographers who environment. For more details contact Sue Sills on meet each Wednesday at 7:45pm at Westbury 962 8306. Fields. New members of any level of ability are most welcome. For details contact Pete on 07870 589555. The Bristol Nine is published by Bristol Community Excel Bridge Club meets in Stoke Bishop Village Hall every Monday, beginning promptly at 7.15pm. There is a very cheerful & relaxed atmosphere and as we just play 24 boards we are always finished by 10.15pm. For more info ring Ralph Smith on 01275 840006. Stoke Bishop & Sneyd Park Local History Group welcomes all to a series of talks at the Stoke Bishop Village Hall, 42 Stoke Hill, BS9 1EX. Talks start at 7.30pm and anyone interested in local history is
Magazines Ltd (Co. No. 08448649, registered at 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY). The views expressed by contributors or advertisers in The Bristol Nine are not necessarily those held by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd. The inclusion of any business or organisation in this magazine does not imply a recommendation of it, its aims or its methods. Bristol Community Magazines Ltd cannot be held responsible for information disclosed by advertisers, all of which are accepted in good faith. Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine but no liability can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused
p 89
p 90
What’s On & Community News
Staffordshire, Hampshire; 5. English Civil War, Crimean War, the Cod Wars; 6. Anne Nightingale; 7. as a result of inclusion, error or omission. All content is 70 points (20 for the word and a 50 point bonus for the copyright of Bristol Community Magazines Ltd and using all your letters); 8. Betty Boothroyd (Speakers may not be reproduced without the prior written of the House of Commons), John Smith (Labour consent of Bristol Community Magazines. Party leaders), Richard III (English monarchs); 9. Mr Spock in Star Trek, Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Get In Touch Games, and Han Solo in Star Wars - The Force Awakens; 10. Molly is our Green Party MEP, Joe and Do please get in touch, whether you are interested Jake were our entry at the recent Eurovision Song in advertising, have an item or event that you think Contest, and Sir Kim is our Ambassador to the would benefit from a free listing, or if you have any United States of America; 11. Portugal, Spain, comments or suggestions about the magazine - it is France, Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, always good to receive any feedback. Belarus and Russia; 12. Felix Mendelssohn; 13. Pumice stone; 14. Belarus and Switzerland; 15. Telephone: 0117 259 1964 / 07845 986650 1830’s 1930’s, 1960’s, and 1440’s; 16. Hannah Cockroft, Ian Poulter and Fran Halsall. Post: 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, BS9 3PY Email: andy@bcmagazines.co.uk Web: www.bcmagazines.co.uk Twitter: @BS9Andy The deadline for inclusion in the July 2016 issue is 15th June 2016. A note about the free listings If you want to take advantage of these free listings to publicise a specifically dated event, show or concert that is taking place in the first half of the month then please do all you can to let me know well in advance so that I can publicise it in the preceding months magazine. While every effort is made to deliver all magazines as early as possible in the month there are sometimes delays (both within and outside of my control) that may mean an event early in that month might not receive the full publicity desired by the organiser if it only features in that months magazine. No charge is made for these listings, all publicity is free - and events can be advertised more than once - so to maximise the exposure your event gets please get your listings in as early as possible. Please also note that the deadline for inclusion in the August magazine, which will not be delivered until w/c 4th August, is very early. All notices for the August issue must be received by 8th July to be sure of inclusion. Quiz Answers from Page 16 1. M1 (Nottinghamshire), M27 (Hampshire), M6 Toll (Staffordshire); 2. Tony Curtis and Roger Moore; 3. Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden; 4. Suffolk,
p 91
Ukulele Funhouse Orchestra present THE PIRATES OF THE SEVERN ESTUARY Cap’n Blackbeard turns to cheese piracy ‐ it’s easier to find and less well guarded ‐ and sets out to find the Holey Gruyere, on which is wri en the loca on of the Cheddar Maturing caves. It’s a race against Long John Silver, with the winner facing the fearsome Mendip Cowgirl, who guards the cheese. Comedy, music, and you’ll leave with a smile and a craving for a cheese and onion roll.
7.30pm, Saturday 11th June 2016 Newman Hall, Henleaze Tickets just £10 from Henleaze Post Office or online from Ents24.com www.ukulelefunhouseorchestra.co.uk
p 92
p 93
p 94
Stoke Bishop Guide Price £650,000 This is an exceptional 1920’s 4 bedroom semi‐detached family house which has been considerably extended on the ground loor in recent years creating wonderful versatile living. Situated in the popular suburban area of Stoke Bishop the immediate area has long been a favourite location for expanding families or those relocating into the area. EPC – E
Westbury‐on‐Trym Guide Price £599,950 This very attractive 1930's 3 bedroom plus loft room semi‐ detached home offering spacious accommodation is in a desirable location being within level walking distance of local shops and comfortably within the catchment area of Elmlea Infants and Junior Schools. EPC – D
Coombe Dingle Guide Price £619,500 We are delighted to offer this beautifully modernised 1960’s built 4 bedroom detached family home, set in this highly sought after location with a sense of being halfway between city and country living. EPC – D
Westbury Park ‐ GUIDE PRICE RANGE £775,000 ‐ £795,000 A stunning 3 bedroom, 3 reception, 2 bathroom ground loor maisonette with private rear garden and parking for 3 cars and secure underground garage. Arranged over three loors (circa 2000 sq ft) is set on a desirable tree lined road within the Redland/Westbury Park borders. EPC – F
Redland ‐ £775,000 A spacious and attractive period 1920's 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, family home with garden, garage and parking that is located in a prime location with great access to local junior schools and just 0.4miles (approx) from the popular Redland Green School. EPC ‐ TBC
Clifton Village ‐ £349,950 A highly sought after location on the corner of Victoria Square in Clifton Village for this rather lovely hall loor lat which forms part of this beautiful Grade II* listed building built in 1835. The property offers purchasers the opportunity to recon igure the lat to suit their own needs, if required. Residents can also enjoy the bene it of the recently introduced Residents Parking Scheme.
Selling? Call us today on 0117 962 2299 for a FREE market appraisal | Here to accommodate
p 96
Throughout the process of my recent house sale Ben was very helpful, as indeed were his colleagues on Ben's days off. It was always a real pleasure to interact with Ben both on the telephone and in person. His quiet calm voice and seemingly unflappable manner were always re‐assuring. Ben was excellent at liaising with all related par es and conveying informa on in a clear and concise way. I was completely sa sfied with the overall service and advice received from everyone and in par cular from Ben, therefore I have no hesita on in recommending Maggs+Allen. Dr V Masters, Wildcro Road, Henleaze (Seller)
For the second me we have been very pleased with the outcome of our sale with Maggs & Allen and we have also bought from them with equal success. Mr Evans & Miss Hughes, The Dell, Westbury on Trym (seller) March 2016
We much appreciated your excellent communica on and help during this some mes difficult sale. We would not hesitate to recommend Maggs & Allen to others. Mrs Adair, Lake Road, Henleaze (seller)
We were very impressed from the outset by Maggs & Allens professional approach and prac cal advice. My wife and I would strongly recommend anyone who is looking to sell a property. Mr & Mrs Blythe, Waterford Road, Henleaze (seller)
Ben looked a er the sale of my flat in BS6. He was very straigh orward to deal with, replied promptly to all queries and made the process of selling the flat as pleasant as possible! I was very impressed with his "lack of pushiness"‐ he seemed very interested in ge ng the right offer for the property, even if it meant a slower sale and more work for Maggs and Allen. It had a very refreshing change! Miss Hodby, Redland Road, Redland (seller)
Just a small selec on of the le ers & tes monials we have received from sellers. If you are thinking of selling or would like advice please contact us: 0117 949 9000 agency@maggsandallen.co.uk